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

Jun 10 - Two sedans struck on the Brooklyn Bridge. Three people injured. Bruises, whiplash, pain. Police cite passing too closely. Metal and bodies jarred. Night, city, sirens. System failed again.

Two sedans crashed on the Brooklyn Bridge. Three occupants were injured, suffering neck and arm bruises and whiplash. According to the police report, the collision was caused by 'Passing Too Closely' and 'Other Vehicular' factors. Both vehicles were traveling west when the impact occurred. The report lists no errors by those injured. Driver error—passing too closely—was the main cause. No mention of helmet or signal use as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820376 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 10 - Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-06-10

Jun 10 - Albany lawmakers set aside the Stop Super Speeders bill. Advocates erupted. The Assembly dodged action. Vulnerable New Yorkers stay in harm’s way. No relief. No justice. Streets remain deadly. Lawmakers offered excuses. Lives hang in the balance.

On June 10, 2025, the New York State Assembly set aside the Stop Super Speeders bill (S4045/A2299), halting its progress this legislative session. The bill, heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee, would have required drivers with six or more camera-issued speeding tickets in a year to install a device preventing them from exceeding the speed limit by more than five miles per hour. Advocates, including Amy Cohen of Families for Safe Streets, called the Assembly's move 'outrageous.' Senate sponsor Andrew Gounardes vowed to keep fighting. Assembly Transportation Chair William Magnarelli cited due process concerns. Brandy Nannini, Ben Furnas, and Frank Harris condemned the inaction. According to safety analysts, the event marks no direct change for pedestrian or cyclist safety, as the bill did not pass and no new protections were enacted.

• Advocates Slam Albany Pols After ‘Stop Super Speeders’ Bill is Set Aside, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-10

Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 8 - Lawmakers killed a bill to force repeat speeders to install devices that stop reckless driving. Upstate politicians balked. The bill will not pass this session. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. No relief. No change. The danger rolls on.

On June 8, 2025, the New York State Assembly Transportation Committee, chaired by William Magnarelli, blocked the Super Speeders bill. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, had passed the Senate Transportation Committee but stalled in the Assembly. The measure would have required drivers caught speeding six or more times in a year to install devices preventing reckless driving. The matter summary states: 'A bill that would require recidivist speeders to install a simple device to block the car from being driven recklessly will not pass this session.' Gallagher expressed frustration, warning that every delay means preventable crashes and lives lost. Safety analysts note the bill would have directly reduced risk for pedestrians and cyclists by targeting repeat dangerous drivers. Despite support from advocates and NYC DOT, the committee cited due process and enforcement concerns. The bill must be reintroduced next year. Vulnerable road users remain at risk.

• BREAKING: Key ‘Super Speeders’ Bill Won’t Pass This Session, Says Assembly Transportation Chair, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-08

Jun 5 - An SUV turned right on Nevins Street. An e-scooter rider went straight. The crash threw him off. He hit the ground hard. His leg bruised. Police cite driver inattention. The street stayed busy. The danger stayed real.

An SUV and an e-scooter collided at Nevins Street and Schermerhorn Street in Brooklyn. The e-scooter rider, a 38-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a contusion to his lower leg. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The SUV was making a right turn while the e-scooter traveled straight. The SUV's right front bumper struck the e-scooter, which took the impact at its center front end. The police report lists no other contributing factors. The e-scooter rider was conscious after the crash. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818681 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 3 - Another joins Families for Safe Streets. Another life lost. The toll rises. Grief sharpens the call for change. Streets stay deadly. The city fails to shield its own. The group grows. The danger remains.

On June 3, 2025, Gersh Kuntzman issued an advocacy statement, reported by Streetsblog NYC. The statement reads, 'There's a new member of Families for Safe Streets, which is not good news.' Joe Jankoski, mourning Amanda Servedio, spoke out after her death by a recidivist speeder. The group’s ranks swell with each tragedy. No specific bill or committee is named in this event. Kuntzman’s statement underscores the relentless danger faced by pedestrians and cyclists. The safety analyst notes: the event describes a new member joining an advocacy group, which does not directly affect pedestrian or cyclist safety at the population level. The city’s streets remain perilous. The group’s growth is a grim measure of failure.

• Tuesday’s Headlines: Stop Super Speeders Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-03

May 28 - Council pushes a bill to cut bike share costs for New Yorkers over 65. The measure aims to open city cycling to more seniors. The committee now weighs its next move.

Bill Int 1288-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors,' would require the Department of Transportation to mandate lower bike share rates for those 65 and older. Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, Gutiérrez, and Restler. The bill was re-referred to committee June 4. The move aims to make cycling more accessible for older New Yorkers.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes cheaper bike share for students 16 and up. More teens on bikes. Streets shift. Danger remains. The bill sits in committee. Cyclists wait.

Int 1287-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older. The matter title reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older." Council Member Christopher Marte leads as primary sponsor, joined by Louis, Stevens, Brooks-Powers, Ossé, Restler, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, and Banks. The bill was referred to committee and awaits further action. No safety analysis has been provided.

• File Int 1287-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 26 - Two sedans collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Five people inside. One passenger suffered a neck injury. Police blamed passenger distraction. Metal twisted. Whiplash followed. The road stayed dangerous.

Two sedans crashed on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Five occupants were involved. According to the police report, 'Passenger Distraction' was the contributing factor. One passenger, a 26-year-old woman, was injured with neck pain and whiplash. The other four occupants, including both drivers, were not seriously hurt. Both vehicles were traveling west and struck at the center front and back ends. The report lists no other contributing factors. The crash highlights the risk when attention lapses behind the wheel. No mention of helmet or turn signal use appears in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815988 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 26 - A driver struck Tiffany Cifuni after a fender-bender in Bedford-Stuyvesant. She was pregnant. The driver dragged her down a one-way street, crashed again, then fled. Cifuni’s family mourns. The street holds the mark of violence and loss.

NY Daily News reported on May 26, 2025, that Tiffany Cifuni, 32, was killed after a Chevy Trax rear-ended her on Van Buren St. in Brooklyn. Cifuni exited her vehicle to confront the driver, who then ran her over and dragged her down the street. The driver fled, crashing into two more vehicles before abandoning the car. The article quotes Cifuni’s husband: “I lost my whole family tonight.” Surveillance footage captured the confrontation and the fatal impact. The incident highlights the lethal risk of driver aggression and the dangers of hit-and-run crashes. The driver’s decision to flee and drive the wrong way down a one-way street escalated the harm, underscoring systemic failures in street safety and enforcement.

• Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-26

May 25 - A maroon Chevy struck a car from behind in Brooklyn. The woman inside stepped out. The driver ran her over and dragged her. She died in the street. The driver fled. Police search for answers.

CBS New York reported on May 25, 2025, that a woman was killed in Brooklyn after a maroon Chevy rear-ended her car. According to police, 'when she got out to approach the vehicle she was run over and dragged.' The driver did not remain at the scene. The incident highlights the lethal risk posed by drivers who flee after collisions. The NYPD is searching for the suspect. The case underscores ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users and the urgent need for stronger enforcement and street design to prevent such deaths.

• Woman Run Down After Brooklyn Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-05-25

May 23 - A sedan struck a cyclist at Smith Street. The driver was distracted. The cyclist, a 24-year-old man, was ejected and bruised his leg. Both vehicles moved north. The crash left the cyclist hurt and the car damaged.

A crash at 175 Smith Street in Brooklyn involved a sedan and a cyclist. The cyclist, a 24-year-old man, was ejected from his bike and suffered a contusion to his lower leg. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor. The sedan, driven by a 21-year-old woman, was entering a parked position when the collision occurred. Both vehicles were traveling north. The police report does not specify injuries to the sedan's occupants. The cyclist was the only person reported injured. The data lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815165 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 22 - A sedan hit a 15-year-old boy crossing Gold Street at Nassau. The car’s front end struck his lower leg. He was conscious, bruised, and hurt. The driver failed to yield and ignored the signal. The street stayed busy. The danger stayed real.

A 15-year-old pedestrian was injured when a sedan struck him at the intersection of Gold Street and Nassau Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the boy was crossing with the signal when the vehicle, traveling north, hit him with its center front end. The impact caused a contusion to his knee and lower leg, but he remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The data shows the driver did not yield and ignored traffic controls. No helmet or signal use by the pedestrian is cited as a factor. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to people on foot in city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815327 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 21 - Two sedans collided on Adams Street in Brooklyn. A distracted driver struck a stopped car. A 62-year-old passenger suffered back injuries and whiplash. Metal crumpled. The street bore the mark of inattention.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed on Adams Street near Prospect Street in Brooklyn. One sedan was stopped in traffic when another, traveling south, struck it from behind. Six people were involved. A 62-year-old front passenger suffered back injuries and whiplash. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The impact damaged the right rear bumper of the stopped sedan and the right front bumper of the striking car. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814602 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 21 - Senate moves to clamp down on repeat speeders. Bill forces reckless drivers to install speed limiters. Lawmakers act after years of carnage. Streets remain perilous for walkers and riders until the law takes hold.

On May 21, 2025, the Senate Transportation Committee advanced bill S4045B, known as the Stop Super Speeders bill. The measure passed with just two 'no' votes out of 13. The bill requires speed-limiting devices in cars of drivers with six or more camera-issued speeding tickets in a year. Streetsblog NYC reports, 'A bill that would prevent the most-reckless drivers from speeding easily moved forward on Tuesday.' Senator Andrew Gounardes sponsors the bill, emphasizing it targets the most dangerous drivers. Assembly sponsor Emily Gallagher raised concerns about cost and judicial bias, but stressed that speeding endangers everyone. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins backs the bill's safety focus. According to safety analysts, restricting repeat speeders directly tackles a major threat to pedestrians and cyclists, likely reducing crashes and making streets safer citywide.

• ‘Stop Super Speeders’ Bill Advances in Senate Committee, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-21

May 16 - Senator Palumbo, once wary, now backs the Stop Super Speeders bill. The measure targets repeat speeders with court-ordered limiters. Twenty-one percent of fatal pedestrian crashes involve such drivers. Speed limiters cut deaths by over a third. Action, not talk.

On May 16, 2025, the New York State Senate debated the Stop Super Speeders bill (S4045/A2029), which requires speed-limiting devices for drivers with six or more speed-camera violations in a year. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes, aims to curb reckless driving. Initially, Sen. Anthony Palumbo (R-Suffolk) opposed the measure, citing concerns about government overreach and enforcement. He compared it to ignition locks for drunk drivers, which he supports. After discussion with Gounardes, Palumbo shifted, supporting the bill if it meets its goal. The bill’s summary states it targets repeat speeders with court orders and misdemeanor charges for non-compliance. Data shows 21 percent of fatal pedestrian crashes in NYC involve vehicles with six or more camera tickets in the prior year. Speed limiters have been shown to reduce traffic deaths by 37 percent. Palumbo now signals willingness to take strong action against reckless drivers.

• How One Anti-Gov’t Republican Signed onto a Street Safety Bill to Rein in Reckless Drivers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-16

May 16 - State Sen. Palumbo, once wary of government reach, now supports speed-limiting devices for repeat speeders. The bill targets drivers with six or more violations. Debate follows a fatal crash. Lawmakers clash, then unite. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

On May 16, 2025, State Sen. Anthony Palumbo, Republican from Suffolk, changed course on the Stop Super Speeders bill (S4045/A2029). The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes, would require speed-limiting devices in cars of drivers with six or more speed-camera violations in a year. Palumbo first called the measure 'government overreach,' preferring license suspensions. After debate and a detailed comparison to ignition locks for drunk drivers, Palumbo agreed to support the bill if it meets its goal. Gounardes explained, 'We mimicked the ignition lock process and procedure.' The bill gained momentum after a deadly crash. According to the safety analyst, the event text does not describe a specific policy or legislative action affecting pedestrians or cyclists, so no safety impact can be determined.

• How One Anti-Gov’t Republican Signed onto a Street Safety Bill to Rein in Reckless Drivers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-16

May 15 - A bus hit a box truck on Tillary Street. One driver suffered arm and shoulder injuries. Police cite failure to yield. Metal and glass scattered. Shock followed. System failed to protect.

A bus and a box truck collided on Tillary Street at Cadman Plaza East in Brooklyn. One driver, a 30-year-old woman, was injured in the arm and shoulder and reported shock. According to the police report, the crash involved a 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' Both vehicles were traveling east. The bus was changing lanes when it struck the right side of the box truck. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported hurt. The system allowed heavy vehicles to clash, leaving injury and disruption in their wake.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813622 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 15 - A Mercedes turned left onto Rutland Road. The car struck Maurette Lafleur, 68, in the crosswalk. Medics rushed her to the hospital. She died. The driver stayed. No charges. The street stayed open. The danger stayed.

NY Daily News reported on May 15, 2025, that Maurette Lafleur, 68, was killed while crossing Rutland Road at E. 94th St. in East Flatbush. The article states, "Maurette Lafleur was in the crosswalk...when the driver of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz slammed into her." Police said the 64-year-old driver was turning left from E. 95th St. onto Rutland Road when the crash occurred. Lafleur was transported to Kings County Hospital but could not be saved. The driver remained at the scene and faced no immediate charges. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians in marked crosswalks and raises questions about intersection safety and left-turn protocols.

• Mercedes Driver Kills Woman In Crosswalk, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-15