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

Aug 3 - A man crossed Broadway. A driver hit him. The driver sped off. The man died on the street. Police hunt for the vehicle, possibly a garbage truck. The city’s roads claim another life.

NY Daily News (2025-08-03) reports a 47-year-old pedestrian was killed crossing Broadway at Suydam St. in Brooklyn. The driver, possibly operating a garbage truck, left the scene. Police said, "A driver struck and killed a 47-year-old pedestrian... then left the scene." The victim died before help arrived. The driver’s failure to remain highlights ongoing dangers for those on foot and the persistent issue of hit-and-runs in New York City.

• Driver Flees After Brooklyn Pedestrian Death, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-03

Jul 24 - Two drivers were injured in a multi-vehicle crash on Tillary Street in Brooklyn. Both suffered head injuries and complained of whiplash. Two SUVs and a taxi were involved. Police list contributing factors as 'Unspecified'.

Two SUVs and a taxi collided eastbound on Tillary Street in Brooklyn. Two male drivers, ages 49 and 65, suffered head injuries and reported whiplash. Several other occupants were in the vehicles; the report does not detail their injuries. According to the police report, “two male drivers, ages 65 and 49, suffered head injuries and whiplash,” and contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified.' Police did not record any specific driver error in the data. Vehicle damage is recorded at center front and center back of the involved cars, and occupant counts are noted without further causal findings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830766 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 24 - Eighty dead or maimed on Third Avenue since 2018. Sunset Park stands up. Residents, officials, and advocates demand the city end delays. No fixes yet. Danger remains.

""Here we are, once again gathering to mourn another preventable tragedy on our streets. But it doesn't have to be this way,"" -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 24, 2025, Sunset Park residents, Council Member Alexa Avilés, Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, Senator Andrew Gounardes, and advocates rallied for urgent street safety fixes on Third Avenue. BKReader reports: 'Fatalities on Third Avenue...are preventable with safety upgrades.' The Department of Transportation's plan has stalled for two years. Avilés called the corridor 'persistently dangerous.' Gounardes said, 'We know how to fix it: safer street design.' No council bill or committee is listed. The event shows strong community demand, but no policy action has been taken. As of now, there is no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Sunset Park Urges City to Fast-Track Third Avenue Street Fixes, BKReader, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 23 - Two pedestrians killed. Advocates and local leaders demand action. City stalls. Third Avenue stays deadly. Anger and grief fill Sunset Park.

"This is not meant to be a highway. This is where people walk. This is where people live. This is where kids go to school." -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 23, 2025, local politicians and advocates rallied at 60th Street and Third Avenue, Sunset Park. They condemned the Adams administration's delay of a DOT safety plan, approved by Community Board 7 in 2023, after a hit-and-run killed two pedestrians. Council Member Alexa Avilés called for real investment. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives called the delay 'unconscionable.' State Sen Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes demanded urgent redesign. The rally's matter: 'demanding the Adams administration implement traffic safety measures on Third Avenue.' Safety analysts note: public rallies like this can push systemic changes, making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

• After fatal hit-and-run, local pols and street safety advocates slam delay of Third Avenue safety plan, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-07-23

Jul 18 - Six speeding tickets. School zones. Gersh Kuntzman calls out Andrew Cuomo. Reckless driving from leaders puts lives at risk. Streets stay dangerous. No answers from Cuomo.

"if the state legislature had passed Sen. Andrew Gounardes's "Stop Super Speeder" bill, would have required Cuomo to get a speed limiter installed into his beloved Dodge." -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 18, 2025, journalist Gersh Kuntzman of Streetsblog NYC criticized former Governor Andrew Cuomo for racking up six speed-camera tickets in city school zones between March and June. Kuntzman wrote, 'That's objectively a horrendous record of reckless driving through city school zones.' He noted that if Sen. Andrew Gounardes's 'Stop Super Speeder' bill had passed, Cuomo would face a mandatory speed limiter. No council bill or committee action is involved. The safety analyst notes this is an individual’s behavior, not a policy change, so there is no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Friday’s Headlines: Cuomo’s Road Rage Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-18

Jul 17 - Two men died crossing Third Avenue. A driver sped through a red. The city knew the danger. The mayor stalled safety plans. The street stays deadly. The toll mounts. The fix waits.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-17) reports Mayor Adams delayed a redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue, long known as hazardous. Last week, a speeding driver ran a red light, killing two pedestrians. The article quotes Adams, who once called Third Avenue 'extremely intimidating' and said it 'must be at the top of our list.' Despite this, his administration 'put the brakes on a potentially life-saving road redesign,' favoring business interests. Attorney Peter Beadle notes, 'they had a plan ready to go and then it was pulled back.' The city could face legal action for failing to act despite knowing the risks, echoing a 2017 state court ruling on municipal liability.

• Mayor Delays Third Avenue Safety Redesign, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 16 - A driver spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The car struck a woman on the curb. She died at the hospital. Police charged the driver with negligent homicide. The lot was left scarred. The city mourns another loss.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-16), Zachary Cando, 24, was 'doing the dangerous spinning trick' known as donuts in a Gateway Center parking lot when he lost control and hit Madisyn Ruiz, 21, who was sitting nearby. Ruiz died after being rushed to the hospital. Police charged Cando with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The article notes the car was 'badly dented in the front.' The crash highlights the risks of reckless driving in public spaces and the need for stronger deterrents in parking lots.

• Driver Kills Girlfriend Doing Donuts, New York Post, Published 2025-07-16

Jul 15 - The city plans to rip out protected bike lanes on Bedford Avenue. Cyclists vow legal action if injuries follow. Over 200 sign a pledge. The mayor moves ahead, ignoring proven safety gains.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-15) reports Brooklyn cyclists pledged to sue if the city removes protected bike lanes on Bedford Avenue and injuries result. Over 200 signed a pledge after Mayor Adams decided to strip three blocks of protection, despite city data showing the lanes made the street 'dramatically safer.' The move follows a court ruling allowing the change. City Hall claims the redesign addresses 'serious safety concerns.' Legal precedent (Turturro v. City of New York) could hold the city liable for knowingly making streets less safe. Advocates see the decision as political, not safety-driven.

• Cyclists Threaten Lawsuit Over Bedford Ave, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-15

Jul 14 - The driver of a sedan hit a 67-year-old woman in a marked crosswalk on Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn. She suffered severe head lacerations and was conscious. Police recorded failure to yield and driver inattention.

A 67-year-old woman was struck by a sedan while crossing Atlantic Avenue in a marked crosswalk in Brooklyn. She suffered severe lacerations to her head and was conscious at the scene. "According to the police report …" the driver was licensed, traveling west and going straight ahead when the vehicle hit the pedestrian. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver and driver inattention/distraction as contributing factors. The vehicle struck the pedestrian with a center-front impact. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828889 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 11 - The driver of a van rear-ended an SUV on Tillary Street as both vehicles made left turns. A 53-year-old SUV driver suffered contusions to the knee and lower leg. Police recorded 'Following Too Closely.'

Both vehicles were traveling south on Tillary Street in Brooklyn when the driver of a van struck the center back end of a station wagon/SUV. The driver of the SUV, a 53-year-old man, was injured with contusions to the knee and lower leg and was conscious. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Following Too Closely.' Both vehicles were making left turns at the time of impact. The report lists no other contributing factors. The injured driver was using a lap belt and harness. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826985 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 11 - A car sped down Third Avenue. Two men, one with a cane, one with a cart, crossed. The driver did not brake. Both men died in the street. The car fled. Police made an arrest hours later.

ABC7 reported on July 11, 2025, that two men, aged 59 and 80, were killed by a speeding 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 leaving the scene. The victims, Kex Un Chen and Faqiu Lin, were walking to a food pantry. The crash highlights dangers for pedestrians and the deadly consequences of reckless driving.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Two In Sunset Park, ABC7, Published 2025-07-11

Jul 10 - A driver fell asleep and crashed into parked vehicles on Boerum Place. He struck a moped and two SUVs. The 56-year-old man suffered a contusion to his leg and remained conscious. Police list 'Fell Asleep' as the cause.

"According to the police report," the driver of a 2017 BMW sedan traveling south on Boerum Place fell asleep and struck several parked vehicles, including a 2019 Vespa moped and two parked SUVs. The sedan hit with its right front bumper. The 56-year-old male driver sustained a contusion to his knee/lower leg/foot, remained conscious, and was not ejected. The report lists "Fell Asleep" as the primary contributing factor and records driver fatigue as the cause. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The driver was reported using a lap belt and harness.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826984 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 10 - A sedan hit a cyclist at Jay and Sands. The cyclist was ejected and injured. Police cite improper passing and unsafe lane change. System failed to protect the rider.

A sedan traveling north on Jay Street collided with a westbound cyclist turning left at Sands Street in Brooklyn. The cyclist, a 37-year-old man, was ejected and suffered leg injuries. According to the police report, 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' were listed as contributing factors. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, but driver errors came first. The crash highlights the danger faced by cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826993 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 10 - City rips out Bedford Avenue bike lane. Cyclists lose safe passage. Judge sides with mayor. Injuries had dropped. Advocates warn: danger returns. Streets grow harsher for those outside cars.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-10) reports that Mayor Adams will remove a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue after a judge upheld the city’s decision. Advocates say this 'all but guarantees that there will be blood on Eric Adams's hands.' NYPD data showed injuries dropped after the lane’s installation. The city acted after complaints from local leaders. The lane sits on a 'Vision Zero Priority Corridor,' one of Brooklyn’s most dangerous streets. Cyclists and residents called the move political and warned it strips away proven safety. No driver errors cited, but the policy shift exposes vulnerable road users to renewed risk.

• Brooklyn Bike Lane Removal Sparks Outrage, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-10

Jul 9 - A driver turned right on Willoughby Street and hit a 31-year-old man in a marked crosswalk at Jay Street. He suffered knee and lower-leg injuries and was in shock. Police recorded failure to yield.

According to the police report, a driver turning right on Willoughby Street at Jay Street hit a 31-year-old man who was crossing in a marked crosswalk. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower-leg injuries and was in shock. Police recorded "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the contributing factor. The report notes the pedestrian was crossing with no signal when the driver made the right turn and failed to yield. No other contributing factors are listed. The vehicle involved was a 2014 Chevrolet sedan traveling west.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828238 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 9 - 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.

• Judge Allows Bedford Bike Lane Change, NY1, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 9 - A Brooklyn judge cleared the way for Mayor Adams to rip out Bedford Avenue’s protected bike lane. Cyclists lose shelter. The street grows harsher. Safety for the vulnerable falls away.

""The reckless decision to rip out the Bedford bike lane proves yet again that Eric Adams cares more about his political future than our collective safety."" -- Lincoln Restler

On July 9, 2025, Judge Carolyn Walker-Diallo ruled on the removal of Bedford Avenue’s protected bike lane. The case, reported by Streetsblog NYC, allowed Mayor Eric Adams to erase three blocks of protected lane without public notice. The judge called the change a 'modification,' sidestepping city law on notification. Council Member Lincoln Restler and attorney Peter Beadle condemned the move. DOT data showed the protected lane cut crashes and injuries. The ruling strips away safe space for cyclists and pedestrians. As the safety analyst notes, removing a bike lane increases risk for all vulnerable road users by putting cars first.

• Brooklyn Judge Lets Eric Adams Rip Up Bedford Avenue Protected Bike Lane, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 8 - Two new elevators rise at Bay Ridge-95th Street. Barriers fall. Riders once shut out now enter. Subway access grows. Streets outside still threaten, but inside, movement is free. Each upgrade shifts the city’s balance.

"This project has been a long time coming. When I first got into elected office, there was not a single accessible station anywhere in my district... Today we are celebrating the second station in Bay Ridge to have accessibility access." -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 8, 2025, the MTA opened two ADA-compliant elevators at Bay Ridge-95th Street station, Brooklyn. The project, backed by federal funds, finished under budget. Council Member Justin Brannan, State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis all praised the upgrade. Quemuel Arroyo, MTA’s chief accessibility officer, called it 'a crucial connection.' The new elevators mark the third Brooklyn station made accessible this year. Improved subway access encourages walking and cycling to transit, boosting safety for vulnerable users by increasing their numbers and visibility. The MTA must reach 95% accessibility by 2055.

• MTA opens two elevators at newly-accessible Bay Ridge-95th Street station, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 4 - SUV slammed into a parked SUV on Tillary. One driver suffered head pain. Police cite inattention and improper lane use. Metal crumpled. Shock lingered.

A moving SUV hit a parked SUV on Tillary Street near Gold Street in Brooklyn. One driver, age 31, suffered a head injury and shock. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' were listed as contributing factors. Both vehicles were SUVs. The crash left one person hurt and others shaken. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report highlights driver inattention and improper lane use as key causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825649 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jun 30 - Governor Hochul signed S.8344/A.8787, extending NYC’s school zone speed camera program to 2030. Cameras stay. Streets watch. Danger lingers for kids crossing. Fewer drivers speed. Fewer crashes. Lives spared.

On June 30, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed S.8344/A.8787, renewing New York City’s school zone speed camera program through July 1, 2030. The bill, described as 'an extra boost' for automated enforcement, updates home-rule provisions first enacted in 2013. State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Deborah Glick sponsored the measure. Both praised the program’s record in cutting speeds and saving lives. Council member Barbara Russo-Lennon supported the renewal. A safety analyst notes the extension is likely to reduce speeds and crashes, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists, especially children, without burdening vulnerable road users.

• Staying on: New Yorkers react to Hochul’s renewed speed camera program in NYC, AMNY, Published 2025-06-30