Brooklyn Heights Bleeds: Two Dead, Dozens Broken, City Leaders Shrug

A sedan hit two elderly pedestrians in Brooklyn. Both were crossing with the signal. The car turned left and failed to yield. One man suffered a bruised leg. One woman hurt her arm. The driver moved too fast. The street stayed dangerous.

Two pedestrians, aged 87 and 85, were struck by a sedan while crossing Court Street at Livingston Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both pedestrians were crossing with the signal at the intersection when the sedan, making a left turn, failed to yield and hit them. The 87-year-old man suffered a contusion to his knee and lower leg, while the 85-year-old woman sustained injuries to her arm and hand. Both were conscious after the crash. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The driver, a 26-year-old man, was operating a 2011 Honda sedan registered in Pennsylvania. No helmet or signal use by the pedestrians was cited as a factor. The crash highlights the persistent danger for those on foot in New York City intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819096, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan hit a man crossing near parked cars on Court Street. The crash left the pedestrian hurt, his arm scraped. The car’s right front took the blow. Police list no clear cause. The street stayed dangerous. The system failed again.

A 23-year-old man walking on Court Street in Brooklyn was struck by a sedan while emerging from behind a parked vehicle. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered an abrasion to his arm and was conscious at the scene. The sedan’s right front quarter panel was damaged. The driver and a rear passenger were not reported injured. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' and does not cite any specific driver error. The crash happened away from an intersection, highlighting the risks pedestrians face near parked cars. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810849, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A box truck struck a parked SUV on Clinton Street in Brooklyn. The truck passed too close. One driver suffered back injuries. Metal crumpled. The street fell silent. The crash left pain and questions behind.

A box truck collided with a parked SUV on Clinton Street near Remsen Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash occurred when the box truck, traveling east and making a left turn, struck the left rear quarter panel of the stationary SUV. The report lists 'Passing Too Closely' as a contributing factor. One person, a 58-year-old woman driving the SUV, sustained back injuries and reported whiplash. The truck driver, a 45-year-old man, was not injured. The impact damaged both vehicles. The police report does not mention any errors by the injured party. The crash underscores the danger of close passes and large vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810016, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A parked SUV’s door bursts into a cyclist’s path on Atlantic Avenue. Metal edge rips flesh. Blood pools on the street. The young man’s arm is torn open. The driver stands unharmed. Distraction behind the door. Streets remain unforgiving.

A 26-year-old man riding his bike westbound on Atlantic Avenue collided with the door of a parked SUV, according to the police report. The report states the SUV driver, age seventy-one, opened the door into the cyclist’s path, causing a violent impact: 'Steel meets flesh. Blood on the street. The young man’s arm split open.' The cyclist suffered severe lacerations to his arm and was conscious at the scene. The SUV driver was not injured. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The data does not list any cyclist actions as contributing factors. The collision underscores the persistent danger posed by inattentive drivers and the lethal consequences of a moment’s distraction behind the wheel or door.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804626, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Metal scraped and glass scattered on Joralemon Street in Brooklyn. A 56-year-old male driver, conscious but hurt, suffered abrasions across his body after his sedan struck parked cars. Sirens echoed as first responders arrived at the scene.

According to the police report, a crash involving multiple sedans occurred on Joralemon Street near Clinton Street in Brooklyn. The incident left a 56-year-old male driver injured with abrasions to his entire body. The report lists the driver as 'conscious' at the scene. The collision involved a moving sedan striking parked vehicles, with damage concentrated at the center front of the moving car and the rear of the parked cars. The police report notes 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor for the driver, providing no further detail on the cause. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved, and no helmet or signal issues were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804043, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A drunk driver blasted through a red light at 72 mph. He struck Katherine Harris, killing her steps from home. The car crashed on. Blood alcohol twice the limit. The street became a crime scene. Lives shattered in seconds.

NY Daily News reported on February 28, 2025, that Erick Trujillo, 29, was sentenced to three to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. On April 16, 2023, Trujillo drove his Volvo at 72 mph—nearly triple the speed limit—through a red light at Atlantic Ave and Clinton Street in Brooklyn. He struck pedestrian Katherine Harris, 31, killing her instantly, then rear-ended another car and crashed into an outdoor dining shed. Trujillo's blood alcohol level was .17, more than twice the legal limit. The article quotes Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez: "This defendant made a disastrous decision when he got behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated." The case highlights the lethal consequences of impaired driving and excessive speed, underscoring systemic risks for pedestrians in New York City.

• Drunk Driver Speeds, Kills Pedestrian in Brooklyn, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-28

Three SUVs collided in a chain-reaction crash on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. One driver suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cited following too closely as the primary cause, highlighting the dangers of tailgating on high-speed roads.

According to the police report, a chain-reaction collision occurred on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway around 12:24 a.m. involving three SUVs traveling westbound. The first vehicle was slowing or stopping when the second SUV, driven by a 30-year-old man, struck it from behind. The third SUV then collided with the second vehicle. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the crash, emphasizing driver error in maintaining unsafe distances. The injured driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained back injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and remained conscious. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The crash underscores the systemic danger of tailgating on busy expressways and the severe consequences for vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794213, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two vehicles merging southwest on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway collided. Both drivers and a passenger suffered eye contusions. Police cited passing too closely and unsafe lane changing as key factors in the crash, causing serious bruising and vehicle damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway around 10:00 AM. A 2024 Honda sedan and a 2020 Nissan pickup truck, both traveling southwest and merging, collided. The sedan's left front bumper struck the truck's right rear bumper. The report identifies 'Passing Too Closely' as a contributing factor for both drivers, with the sedan driver also cited for 'Unsafe Lane Changing.' The sedan carried two occupants: a 25-year-old female driver and a 25-year-old male passenger. Both were conscious but sustained eye contusions and bruises. Airbags deployed and lap belts were used. The pickup truck had one male driver, licensed in New York. The collision caused damage to the left front quarter panel of the sedan and the right rear quarter panel of the truck. The report highlights driver errors in close passing and lane changes as the primary causes, with no victim fault noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794218, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan traveling west on Old Fulton Street struck the left rear bumper of another vehicle. The driver, a 30-year-old woman, suffered back injuries and whiplash. The crash was caused by driver inattention and distraction, according to the police report.

According to the police report, a 2023 Toyota sedan traveling west on Old Fulton Street collided with the left rear bumper of another vehicle also traveling west. The point of impact was the sedan's left rear bumper and the other vehicle's right front bumper. The sedan driver, a 30-year-old licensed female occupant, was injured with back pain and whiplash but was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The collision caused damage to the left rear bumper of the sedan and the right front bumper of the other vehicle, highlighting the dangers of distracted driving on Brooklyn streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792248, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 64-year-old man suffered neck injuries in a rear-end collision on Furman Street. According to the police report, driver inattention led to the crash. The impact caused whiplash but no ejection. Vehicle damage was limited to the sedan’s rear.

At 6:22 AM on Furman Street in Brooklyn, a rear-end collision occurred involving a sedan and a pickup truck, according to the police report. The sedan, stopped in traffic, was struck from behind by the pickup truck, which was slowing or stopping. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The 64-year-old male sedan driver, wearing a lap belt, sustained neck injuries described as whiplash and was conscious at the scene. The sedan sustained center back end damage, while the pickup truck showed no damage. No ejections occurred. The police report explicitly cites the driver’s distraction as the cause, highlighting systemic risks from driver inattention in traffic conditions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792280, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan struck the rear of a tractor truck on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The sedan driver, a 29-year-old man, suffered head injuries and whiplash. Police cited following too closely as the primary cause of the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at 1:00 AM. A sedan traveling westbound collided with the center rear of a tractor truck also moving westbound. The sedan driver, a 29-year-old male occupant, was injured with head trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report explicitly identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor attributed to the sedan driver. The tractor truck, a 2015 model registered in New York, sustained front-end damage, while the sedan, a 2010 model registered in Pennsylvania, was damaged at the rear center. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776532, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 36-year-old woman suffered severe leg injuries after an SUV struck her at a Brooklyn intersection. The driver, making a left turn, failed to pay attention, hitting the pedestrian who was crossing with the signal. The impact fractured and dislocated her knee and lower leg.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10 p.m. on Middagh Street near Henry Street in Brooklyn. A 36-year-old female pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2020 Toyota SUV, traveling south and making a left turn, struck her with its left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained a fractured, distorted, and dislocated injury to her knee and lower leg, classified as injury severity 3. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The vehicle showed no damage, indicating the force of impact was concentrated on the pedestrian. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally but failed to yield to the pedestrian crossing legally. No pedestrian errors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773757, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan and a carry-all collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at night. The carry-all driver’s unsafe lane change caused a right front impact. The sedan driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash but remained conscious and inside the vehicle.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:50 on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The collision involved a sedan traveling east and a carry-all merging eastbound. The carry-all driver committed 'Unsafe Lane Changing,' cited twice as the contributing factor. The impact occurred at the right front bumper of the carry-all and the left front bumper of the sedan. The sedan driver, a 42-year-old male, sustained neck injuries and complained of whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The report explicitly identifies the carry-all driver’s unsafe lane change as the cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the sedan driver or any victim behavior. The crash highlights the dangers of improper merging maneuvers on high-speed expressways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769450, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 29-year-old female driver suffered neck injuries after her SUV overturned on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The crash involved a box truck changing lanes without yielding. The SUV driver was restrained but left with serious pain and shock.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway around 12:50 PM. A 29-year-old female SUV driver, traveling westbound and going straight ahead, was struck when a box truck, also westbound, changed lanes without yielding right-of-way. The report cites the box truck driver's failure to yield and unsafe lane changing as contributing factors. The SUV overturned and was demolished on impact. The SUV driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, was not ejected but sustained neck injuries and was in shock, complaining of pain or nausea. The box truck showed no damage. This collision highlights the dangers posed by driver errors such as failure to yield and unsafe lane changes on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746757, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 24-year-old bicyclist, helmeted but unlicensed, was partially ejected and suffered head injuries after a rear-end collision with a sedan on slippery pavement in Brooklyn. The sedan, carrying two occupants, struck the cyclist from behind while both traveled northbound.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 13:09 in Brooklyn near Clinton Street. A sedan and a bicycle, both traveling northbound, collided when the sedan struck the bicycle from behind. The bicyclist, a 24-year-old male wearing a helmet, was partially ejected and sustained head injuries, including abrasions, and was reported in shock. The report cites 'Pavement Slippery' as a contributing factor for the bicyclist and the crash. The bicyclist was unlicensed, which is noted in the vehicle data. The sedan, a 2023 Toyota with two occupants and a licensed male driver, sustained damage to its center back end. The collision point on the bicycle was the center front end. The data does not indicate any fault or error by the sedan driver beyond the conditions, but the unlicensed status of the bicyclist and slippery pavement contributed to the severity of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746195, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A woman driving an SUV suffered abdominal and pelvic injuries after a collision caused by driver inattention. The crash involved a backing sedan and occurred on Joralemon Street. The injured driver was not ejected but experienced shock and pain.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 13:53 on Joralemon Street involving a 2014 SUV and a 2006 sedan. The SUV driver, a 37-year-old woman, sustained injuries to her abdomen and pelvis, resulting in shock and complaints of pain or nausea. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the collision. The sedan was backing and had no damage, while the SUV had front-end damage. The injured driver was not ejected and was unrestrained, with no safety equipment noted. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors, focusing instead on the SUV driver's distraction leading to the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731966, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 38-year-old female passenger suffered a head contusion in a collision on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The SUV’s left front quarter panel hit the right rear quarter panel of another vehicle. Improper lane usage caused the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 4:08 AM on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. A 2017 Toyota SUV traveling west struck another vehicle on its right rear quarter panel with its left front quarter panel. The collision injured a 38-year-old female occupant seated in the left rear passenger position of the SUV. She sustained a head contusion but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report identifies "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as the contributing factor, indicating driver error in lane handling. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision’s impact and resulting injury highlight the dangers of improper lane use on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705870, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 25-year-old woman suffered a severe head injury after being hit by a northbound sedan on Boerum Place. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the vehicle’s left front bumper struck her, leaving her unconscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Boerum Place and Fulton Street in Brooklyn around 11:34 PM. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when a northbound 2024 Honda sedan struck her with its left front bumper. The impact caused a severe head injury, rendering the pedestrian unconscious. The vehicle was traveling straight ahead and was operated by a licensed male driver. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the driver’s behavior, but the pedestrian’s action of crossing against the signal is noted. The collision resulted in significant injury to the pedestrian, highlighting the dangers present at this intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698059, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 25-year-old woman was injured while crossing Livingston Street. A sedan making a U-turn struck her. The driver failed to yield and was distracted. The woman suffered a head contusion but remained conscious.

A pedestrian was injured in Brooklyn when a sedan made a U-turn on Livingston Street. According to the police report, the pedestrian, a 25-year-old woman, was crossing with the signal when she was struck. The driver, a licensed male, failed to yield the right-of-way and was distracted at the time of the crash. The woman sustained a head injury, classified as a contusion, and was conscious following the impact. The incident highlights systemic issues with driver attentiveness and adherence to traffic laws.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690857, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A tractor truck slammed into the back of an SUV on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Three SUV occupants suffered neck and arm bruises. The crash left all conscious but injured. The truck followed too closely, striking the SUV’s rear center.

According to the police report, a 2018 tractor truck traveling east on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway collided with the rear center of a 2013 SUV going in the same direction. The SUV carried three occupants: a 39-year-old female driver, a 45-year-old male front passenger, and a 57-year-old male rear passenger. All three sustained contusions and bruises to the neck or arm but were conscious and not ejected. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor for the crash. The truck driver failed to maintain a safe distance, causing the rear-end collision. All occupants were restrained with lap belts and harnesses. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685802, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14