Downtown Brooklyn bleeds at the seams: Tillary, Flatbush, Atlantic

Nov 11 - A 2019 sedan and a chassis cab collided in Brooklyn, injuring three occupants. All suffered head injuries and whiplash. The crash involved multiple vehicular errors, highlighting systemic dangers in vehicle interactions on city streets.

According to the police report, a 2019 MERZ sedan and a 2019 MITS chassis cab, both traveling east, collided near 200 Tillary Street in Brooklyn at 21:05. The sedan sustained damage to its right front quarter panel. Three occupants in the sedan—a 20-year-old male driver, a 20-year-old female front passenger, and an 18-year-old male rear passenger—were all injured with head injuries and complaints of whiplash. Each occupant was conscious and restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The report cites "Other Vehicular" factors as contributing causes for all three injured occupants, indicating multiple vehicle-related errors led to the crash. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision underscores risks from driver errors and systemic vehicular dangers in Brooklyn traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771393 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 8 - A licensed female SUV driver made a right turn on Smith Street in Brooklyn, colliding with a northbound unlicensed male e-bike rider. The e-bike driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited improper lane usage and driver distraction as causes.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Smith Street near Dean Street in Brooklyn at 3:45 PM. A licensed female driver of a 2021 Nissan SUV was making a right turn when she collided with a northbound male e-bike rider who was passing improperly. The e-bike driver, unlicensed and operating the vehicle without safety equipment, sustained injuries to his knee and lower leg, including contusions and bruises. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The SUV showed no damage, while the e-bike's center front end was impacted. The report does not attribute fault to the e-bike rider but highlights driver errors and systemic dangers related to lane usage and attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770105 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 8 - Governor Hochul cuts the congestion toll to $9. The move aims to beat a Trump block. Experts warn the lower fee will not cut traffic like the original $15 plan. Urgency grows as the MTA stalls projects. Vulnerable road users wait for relief.

""It’s more important than ever that we start congestion pricing immediately, before Trump can block it,"" -- Andrew Gounardes

On November 8, 2024, State Senator Andrew Gounardes responded to Governor Hochul’s revised congestion pricing plan. The new proposal drops the peak toll from $15 to $9. The plan’s status is pending, with urgency to implement before a new presidential administration. Gounardes stressed, “It’s more important than ever that we start congestion pricing immediately, before Trump can block it.” The bill aims to fund the MTA’s 2020-2024 capital plan, but economist Charles Komanoff warns, “You don’t get the immediate traffic speed gain that a $15 toll would give.” The measure is meant to reduce traffic and improve transit, but the lower toll means less impact. The MTA has already paused $16 billion in work. The focus is on starting the program, but advocates note the diluted toll will not deliver the same safety and quality-of-life gains for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Analysis: Hochul's $9 Congestion Toll May Stave Off Trump, But Won't Reduce Traffic as Much, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-11-08

Nov 8 - Governor Hochul slashes NYC’s congestion toll to $9. The move aims to beat a federal block but guts traffic reduction. Streets will see less relief. The plan leaves vulnerable road users exposed. The city trades speed and safety for political timing.

""It s more important than ever that we start congestion pricing immediately, before Trump can block it," said state Senator Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn). "The time to commit to better public transit, less traffic and cleaner air is now."" -- Andrew Gounardes

On November 8, 2024, Governor Hochul proposed lowering New York City’s congestion pricing toll from $15 to $9. The plan, a policy proposal to adjust congestion pricing, comes as officials rush to implement it before a new presidential administration can intervene. The original $15 toll, crafted by the Traffic Mobility Review Board and approved by the MTA Board, promised strong traffic reduction and included credits and caps. The $9 version, previously reviewed in environmental assessments, may lack those protections. Economist Charles Komanoff warns, 'You lose other benefits. Most noticeably, you don’t get the immediate traffic speed gain that a $15 toll would give.' State Senator Andrew Gounardes urges swift action, saying, 'The time to commit to better public transit, less traffic and cleaner air is now.' The lower toll is projected to improve traffic speeds by only 6.4 percent, far less than the 17 percent expected from the original plan. With less traffic reduction, streets remain dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Analysis: Hochul’s $9 Congestion Toll May Stave Off Trump, But Won’t Reduce Traffic as Much, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-08

Nov 6 - A bus turned, steel and glass sweeping the corner. An e-bike rider, seventy-four, thrown down. His head struck, life ended. The street stilled. The door bore the mark. Brooklyn night, another life lost to traffic’s violence.

A 74-year-old man riding an e-bike was killed at the corner of Jay Street and Tillary Street in Brooklyn when a bus struck him while making a right turn, according to the police report. The narrative states the man was 'thrown from the saddle' and suffered fatal head injuries, with 'the door bore the mark' signaling the point of impact on the bus. The police report lists the bus as 'making right turn' and the e-bike as 'going straight ahead.' Both contributing factors are marked as 'Unspecified' in the report. The victim was not wearing a helmet, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The collision ended with the e-bike rider ejected and killed, underscoring the lethal risk faced by vulnerable road users when large vehicles turn across their path.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769478 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 6 - A 53-year-old woman suffered a severe leg fracture after a sedan failed to yield while making a left turn on Tillary Street. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when struck on the left side, sustaining serious injuries but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling southeast on Tillary Street made a left turn and struck a 53-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection with Jay Street. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor by the driver. The pedestrian sustained a fracture and dislocation to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The driver, a licensed female from Massachusetts, was the sole occupant of the vehicle. The point of impact was the left side doors of the sedan, which showed no damage. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. No other contributing factors were noted beyond the driver's failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769482 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 29 - Two sport utility vehicles collided on Jay Street at midday. Both drivers suffered injuries—abrasions and whiplash—after a left-turning SUV struck another going straight. Police cited improper lane usage and driver distraction as key factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:09 on Jay Street involving two sport utility vehicles. One driver, a 28-year-old woman, was making a left turn when her vehicle's left front quarter panel struck the right front bumper of another SUV traveling straight westbound. Both drivers were injured: the female driver suffered an abrasion to her elbow and lower arm, while the male driver, age 31, experienced whiplash and neck injuries. Both were conscious and restrained with seat belts and harnesses. The report identifies 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the collision. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767586 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 28 - A moped driver, unlicensed and disregarding traffic control, collided head-on with an SUV traveling south on Dean Street in Brooklyn. The moped driver suffered full-body injuries and shock, sustaining whiplash without ejection from the vehicle.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:10 on Dean Street in Brooklyn. The moped, driven by a 48-year-old male without a valid license, was traveling east and struck the right front bumper of a southbound SUV. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary contributing factor, indicating driver error by the moped operator. The moped driver was injured severely, with whole-body trauma and whiplash, and was not ejected from the vehicle. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. No victim behaviors such as helmet use or crossing signals were noted as contributing factors. The collision highlights the danger posed by unlicensed operators ignoring traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767588 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 25 - A 23-year-old bicyclist was ejected and injured after being rear-ended on the Manhattan Bridge Lower level. Police cite following too closely as the cause. The cyclist suffered abrasions to his arm and hand.

According to the police report, a 23-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured in a rear-end collision on the Manhattan Bridge Lower level at 23:50. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. The bicyclist, who was driving his bike, sustained abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The impact occurred at the center back end of the bicyclist's bike and the center front end of the other vehicle, both traveling west. The police report highlights driver error as the cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766663 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 24 - Van turned left on Lafayette Avenue and hit a 28-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She suffered bruises to her knee and leg. Driver failed to yield and was distracted. System failed to protect her.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old woman was crossing Lafayette Avenue with the signal when a van traveling north made a left turn and struck her at the intersection. The report lists the van driver's failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The pedestrian suffered contusions and bruises to her knee and lower leg but remained conscious. The van showed no damage. The crash underscores driver errors—failure to yield and distraction—that endangered a pedestrian lawfully crossing in Brooklyn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767803 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Oct 10 - A 27-year-old woman riding north on Jay Street was ejected from her bike. She hit hard. Her arm and hand were torn up. She wore a helmet. Still, she was badly hurt. No cars involved. Brooklyn pavement took its toll.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old female bicyclist traveling northbound on Jay Street in Brooklyn was ejected from her bike and suffered abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The crash happened at 8:57 AM and involved only the cyclist, with damage to the bike's center front end. The report lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor and does not mention any driver errors or other vehicles. The bicyclist was conscious and wore a helmet at the time of the crash. This incident underscores the risks faced by cyclists, even when no other vehicles are present.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763045 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 27 - Two bikes crashed head-on at Sands Street. One woman, 35, bled from her leg and foot. Distraction and inexperience fueled the impact. Brooklyn pavement took the blow.

According to the police report, two bicyclists collided near 167 Sands Street in Brooklyn at 12:30 PM. One cyclist, heading west, went straight. The other, heading east, made a U-turn. The front ends struck. A 35-year-old woman suffered knee, lower leg, and foot injuries with minor bleeding. She wore a helmet and was not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. No other behaviors or factors were cited. The crash underscores the risk when distraction and inexperience meet on city streets, even among cyclists.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759874 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 26 - Council pushes Albany to let New York City ticket drivers who block bike lanes. Cameras would catch violators. Cyclists face deadly risk. Lawmakers demand action. Streets must protect the vulnerable.

Resolution 0574-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced September 26, 2024, it urges passage of S.5008A/A.803A. The measure calls for a 'bicycle lane safety program' using cameras to enforce bike lane rules. Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor), Lincoln Restler, and Erik D. Bottcher back the resolution. The text states: 'enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' The council demands Albany act. Cyclists die while drivers block lanes. The bill aims to hold motorists accountable and protect those most at risk.

• File Res 0574-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 26 - Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 26 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 25 - A sedan turned right on Flushing Avenue and hit a southbound bicyclist. The rider suffered knee and leg injuries. The crash left the cyclist in shock. The turning car caused the impact.

According to the police report, a sedan making a right turn on Flushing Avenue near Navy Street in Brooklyn struck a southbound bicyclist at 16:03. The cyclist, a 43-year-old man, suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists no explicit driver errors, but the turning maneuver by the sedan directly caused the collision. The bicyclist was not ejected but was left in shock. No contributing factors such as failure to yield or speeding were cited. The crash involved the center front ends of both vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761653 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 24 - Two sedans collided head-to-tail on Tillary Street in Brooklyn. A 69-year-old front-seat passenger suffered head injuries and shock. Police cite following too closely as the cause. The victim was restrained by a lap belt but still injured in the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:30 on Tillary Street in Brooklyn involving two sedans traveling eastbound. The collision was caused by 'Following Too Closely,' a driver error explicitly cited as the contributing factor. The first vehicle, a 2023 Audi sedan, struck the rear center of a 2015 Toyota sedan. The front passenger in the Toyota, a 69-year-old woman, sustained head injuries and was in shock, reporting pain and nausea. She was restrained by a lap belt and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report highlights the driver error of following too closely as the primary cause of the crash, focusing on the systemic danger posed by insufficient vehicle spacing. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758727 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 23 - A 29-year-old woman suffered a head contusion after an SUV struck her at a Brooklyn intersection. The driver failed to yield right-of-way while making a right turn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the impact occurred.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:55 PM on Bond Street near Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver, a licensed male from New Jersey operating a 2022 SUV, was making a right turn when the collision happened. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front bumper. The pedestrian, a 29-year-old female, was crossing the intersection with the signal. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor attributed to the driver. The pedestrian sustained a head injury described as a contusion or bruise and was conscious at the scene. No vehicle damage was reported. The report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as contributing to the crash, focusing responsibility on the driver's failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758258 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 14 - A 66-year-old man driving a sedan suffered neck injuries after an SUV struck the rear of his vehicle on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The collision caused whiplash and left the driver conscious but injured. The crash involved following too closely.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:40 on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway when an SUV traveling east rear-ended a sedan also traveling east. The sedan driver, a 66-year-old male occupant, was injured with neck trauma and reported whiplash. The report identifies the SUV driver's error as "Following Too Closely" and reacting to an uninvolved vehicle, which led to the collision. Both vehicles were going straight ahead at the time of impact, with damage to the center front end of the sedan and the center back end of the SUV. The sedan driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The police report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755874 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 12 - A white SUV struck a 74-year-old man in a Bay Ridge crosswalk. The driver did not slow down. The victim flew through the air. He died at the hospital. The driver fled. Senator Gounardes called for prosecution and safer streets.

On September 12, 2024, State Senator Andrew Gounardes (District 26) responded to a fatal hit-and-run in Bay Ridge. Surveillance video shows a white SUV slamming into Segundo Reina-Gaon, 74, at Ridge Boulevard and Bay Ridge Avenue. The driver did not slow down and fled the scene. Gounardes wrote, 'Awful news to wake up to this morning in Bay Ridge. The video is hard to watch. The driver doesn’t appear to even slow down. This driver needs to be apprehended and prosecuted. And we will continue to work with DOT to make this intersection – and Ridge Boulevard – safer.' Gounardes supports stronger enforcement and street redesign to protect pedestrians. The crash underscores the deadly risk to vulnerable road users at dangerous intersections.

• Brutal video shows SUV plow into 74-year-old, send him flying in fatal hit-and-run crash, nypost.com, Published 2024-09-12