Bed-Stuy Bleeds: City Rips Out Safety, Death Toll Rises

Nov 27 - Two buses traveling west on Gates Ave collided, injuring a 7-year-old passenger. The crash caused head abrasions and left front and right rear quarter panel damage. Driver inattention and distraction were cited as contributing factors in the police report.

According to the police report, two buses collided on Gates Ave in Brooklyn at 7:30 AM. One bus was parked before the crash, while the other was traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the left front quarter panel of the parked bus and the right rear quarter panel of the moving bus. A 7-year-old female passenger seated in the middle rear seat of one bus sustained a head abrasion and was conscious after the crash. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both vehicles. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision caused damage to both buses and resulted in injury to a vulnerable occupant, highlighting the dangers of driver distraction in multi-vehicle crashes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774649 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 27 - A driver struck three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, hit a vehicle with a pregnant woman, then crashed into an empty car. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her at the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist reported on November 27, 2024, that a New York City Housing Authority employee was arrested after a chaotic crash in Brooklyn. According to police, the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," then "drove away, dragging the person several feet and hitting another car with a pregnant woman inside." She struck a third, empty car before New York City Sheriffs arrested her nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but no serious injuries were reported. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights the dangers of hit-and-run behavior and the risks faced by vulnerable road users at busy intersections.

• Three-Car Brooklyn Crash Sparks Arrest, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

Nov 26 - SUV turned left on Tompkins Ave, struck sedan. Two front-seat passengers suffered internal and leg injuries. Police cited following too closely. Impact left passengers wounded in Brooklyn dusk.

According to the police report, a northbound SUV making a left turn on Tompkins Ave near Quincy St in Brooklyn struck a southbound sedan at 17:51. The SUV hit the sedan's left rear bumper with its center front end. Two female front-seat passengers in the sedan were injured: one suffered internal injuries to the abdomen and pelvis, the other abrasions to the knee and lower leg. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor, highlighting driver error. No victim actions contributed to the crash. The force of the collision left both passengers hurt, exposing the danger of driver mistakes at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774630 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 26 - A station wagon SUV and a sedan collided on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. Both drivers suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cited disregard for traffic control as the cause. Both drivers were conscious and restrained at the time of impact.

According to the police report, at 1:30 PM on Nostrand Avenue near Monroe Street in Brooklyn, a 2018 Toyota SUV traveling west struck a 2024 Mercedes sedan traveling south. The point of impact was the SUV's right rear quarter panel and the sedan's center front end. Both drivers, a 53-year-old male in the SUV and a 32-year-old female in the sedan, were injured with back pain and whiplash but remained conscious and were wearing lap belts and harnesses. The report explicitly lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor for both drivers, indicating failure to obey traffic signals or signs. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision resulted in moderate injuries but no ejections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774648 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 18 - A 63-year-old woman crossing Tompkins Avenue was struck by a southbound cyclist. The pedestrian suffered a head injury and minor bleeding, entering shock. The bike showed no damage. The crash occurred at a marked crosswalk without a crossing signal.

According to the police report, a 63-year-old female pedestrian was injured after being hit by a cyclist traveling south on Tompkins Avenue near Martin Luther King Jr Place in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was crossing at a marked crosswalk without a crossing signal when the collision occurred. She sustained a head injury with minor bleeding and was reported to be in shock. The cyclist's vehicle, a bike, showed no damage and was going straight ahead at the time of impact, striking the pedestrian at the center front end. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not cite any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No safety equipment or pedestrian fault was noted in the report. The focus remains on the impact and injuries sustained by the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775551 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 17 - A sedan struck a motorscooter traveling south on Tompkins Avenue in Brooklyn. The scooter driver, partially ejected and wearing a helmet, suffered hip and upper leg injuries. Police cited driver inattention as the primary cause of the collision.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old male motorscooter driver was injured in a collision with a 2023 Tesla sedan traveling west on Tompkins Avenue at 3:41 AM. The scooter driver was partially ejected and sustained abrasions and injuries to his hip and upper leg. The sedan's point of impact was its center front end, while the scooter was struck on its left front bumper. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain proper attention. The scooter driver was wearing a helmet at the time, but no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision caused damage to both vehicles and left the scooter driver conscious but injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771872 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 12 - A 15-year-old bicyclist suffered head abrasions after a collision on Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash involved a vehicle disregarding traffic control. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet and remained conscious despite injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 1:42 AM on Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn. A 15-year-old male bicyclist was injured when a vehicle disregarded traffic control, leading to a collision. The bicyclist sustained head abrasions and was conscious at the scene. The report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary contributing factor, indicating driver error. The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this was not cited as a contributing factor by the police. The vehicle involved was traveling west, and the bicyclist was traveling south. The impact occurred at the center front end of the vehicle, damaging the right front quarter panel. The bicyclist was not ejected and was the sole occupant of the bike.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771378 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 9 - A distracted driver turned onto Tompkins Avenue, striking a young woman crossing with the light. Blood pooled on Lafayette’s corner. She stood in shock, scalp split. The car bore no mark. She did. Driver inattention left its mark on flesh.

A 24-year-old woman was injured at the intersection of Tompkins Avenue and Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn when a vehicle making a right turn struck her head-on, according to the police report. The report states the pedestrian was 'crossing with the light' at the time of the crash, and suffered severe lacerations to her head, standing in shock as blood ran onto the street. The driver’s action is described as 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' in both the narrative and contributing factors. The vehicle sustained no damage, but the impact left the pedestrian wounded. The police report makes clear the driver’s distraction was the primary cause of the collision. The pedestrian’s behavior—crossing with the signal—is noted only to clarify she had the right of way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771655 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 29 - Steel and rubber rolled over a man working in the street. Four trucks passed. The street fell silent. A worker’s life ended beneath the weight of traffic, the city’s machinery grinding on, indifferent to flesh and bone.

A 37-year-old man was killed while working in the roadway on Myrtle Avenue near Walworth Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the victim was not at an intersection but performing work in the street when he was struck and crushed. The report details that a box truck, a pickup truck, a flatbed, and an SUV were involved, with vehicles traveling both east and west. The narrative states the man was 'crushed and killed beneath steel and rubber,' and that 'a box truck, a pickup, and two others passed through.' The police report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified' for the drivers involved. No driver errors are explicitly cited in the report, but the involvement of multiple large vehicles and the presence of a worker in the roadway underscore the systemic dangers faced by those laboring in active traffic lanes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767337 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 28 - A 29-year-old woman suffered elbow and arm injuries after a vehicle failed to yield and turned improperly on Tompkins Avenue. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when struck, left in shock and complaining of pain and nausea.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 13:35 on Tompkins Avenue near Dekalb Avenue in Brooklyn. A vehicle traveling west was making a right turn when it struck a 29-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors attributed to the driver. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, was left in shock, and complained of pain and nausea. The point of impact was the vehicle's center front end, which also sustained damage. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767499 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 27 - A 22-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and suffered head abrasions after a collision with a northbound sedan on Classon Avenue. The cyclist was conscious but injured, with impact on the bike’s front and the sedan’s right front quarter panel.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:15 AM on Classon Avenue in Brooklyn. A 22-year-old male bicyclist traveling westbound was struck by a northbound sedan. The sedan’s right front quarter panel collided with the bike’s center front end. The bicyclist was ejected from his bike and sustained head abrasions, classified as injury severity level 3. The bicyclist was conscious after the crash and was not wearing any safety equipment. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any explicit driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision highlights the danger of interactions between motor vehicles and vulnerable cyclists in Brooklyn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767742 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 25 - A moving SUV collided with a parked SUV on Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn. The impact struck the right side doors of the moving vehicle and the left side doors of the parked vehicle. A passenger suffered knee and lower leg injuries amid reported distractions.

According to the police report, at 4 p.m. on Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn, a 2024 Nissan SUV traveling west struck a parked 2018 Ford SUV. The point of impact was the right side doors of the moving vehicle and the left side doors of the parked vehicle. The collision injured a 37-year-old male passenger seated in the right rear of the moving SUV, who sustained contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The police report cites 'Passenger Distraction' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors, indicating driver error related to limited visibility and distraction inside the vehicle. Both drivers were licensed, and the moving vehicle was going straight ahead before the crash. The passenger was not ejected and was conscious after the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766300 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 25 - A sedan hit a 65-year-old bicyclist from behind on Fulton Street. The cyclist was ejected, suffering back injuries and shock. Police cite driver distraction and close following as causes. The street left the cyclist hurt.

According to the police report, a 65-year-old male bicyclist was struck from behind by a sedan while both traveled west on Fulton Street near Marcy Avenue in Brooklyn. The impact ejected the cyclist, causing back injuries and shock, with pain and nausea reported. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The sedan showed no damage, but the crash left the cyclist injured. No safety equipment was used by the cyclist, as noted in the report. The collision highlights the risk posed by inattentive drivers and close following on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769431 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 22 - A 62-year-old woman suffered full-body injuries after a sedan struck her at an intersection in Brooklyn. The driver failed to yield right-of-way while making a right turn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal and was left in shock.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:25 on Spencer Street near De Kalb Avenue in Brooklyn. A 62-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2023 Honda sedan, traveling northwest, made a right turn and struck her with its right front bumper. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, emphasizing the driver's error in not yielding to the pedestrian. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the time of impact and suffered injuries to her entire body, resulting in shock. The vehicle sustained damage to its right front bumper. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle alone. This collision highlights the dangers posed by driver failure to yield, particularly at intersections where pedestrians have the right-of-way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767504 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 22 - A 90-year-old man crossing with the signal on Willoughby Avenue was struck by a vehicle making a left turn. The driver’s inattention and failure to yield caused the collision, leaving the pedestrian with abrasions and arm injuries.

According to the police report, a 90-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing at an intersection on Willoughby Avenue at 13:58. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a vehicle traveling east made a left turn and struck him with the center front end. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, classified as injury severity level 3. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The driver’s failure to yield and distraction directly led to the collision. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal was noted but not listed as a contributing factor. Vehicle damage was reported at the center front end, confirming the point of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765977 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 21 - An SUV making an improper left turn struck the rear quarter panel of a northbound ambulance on Marcy Avenue. The ambulance driver, a 37-year-old woman, suffered full-body injuries and was left in shock with complaints of pain and nausea.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Marcy Avenue at 18:23. A station wagon/SUV was making a left turn when it collided with the center front end of a northbound EMS ambulance. The SUV's point of impact was its left rear quarter panel, indicating the improper turning maneuver caused the collision. The ambulance driver, a 37-year-old female occupant, was injured with full-body trauma and experienced shock and complaints of pain or nausea. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor, highlighting driver error on the SUV operator's part. There are no contributing factors noted for the ambulance driver. The ambulance sustained damage to its center front end, while the SUV was damaged on the left rear quarter panel. No victims were ejected, and all drivers held valid licenses.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767501 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 20 - A 34-year-old woman suffered severe leg injuries when a sedan making a right turn hit her at an intersection. The driver failed to yield right-of-way and disregarded traffic control, causing a fractured and dislocated lower limb.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Nostrand Avenue was making a right turn at 12:32 when it struck a 34-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian sustained serious injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, including fractures and dislocations. The report explicitly cites the driver's failure to yield right-of-way and disregard of traffic control as contributing factors. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, which suffered damage consistent with the collision. The driver was licensed and operating a 1986 Mercedes sedan alone. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene and not cited for any contributing behavior. This crash highlights the critical role of driver errors in pedestrian injuries at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764724 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 19 - A sedan ran a traffic control and slammed into a westbound cyclist on Tompkins Avenue. The rider took a blow to the head. Metal struck flesh. The street did not forgive.

According to the police report, a 34-year-old male bicyclist was injured when a sedan struck him on Tompkins Avenue near Halsey Street in Brooklyn at 10:30 AM. The sedan, heading south, collided head-on with the westbound cyclist. The bicyclist suffered a head abrasion but remained conscious. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the main contributing factor, showing the sedan driver failed to obey signals or signs. No errors were attributed to the cyclist. Driver inattention was also noted. These failures led directly to the crash and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767493 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 18 - A 71-year-old man suffered severe leg fractures after a sedan traveling east struck him at an intersection. The driver’s inattention and unsafe speed contributed to the collision. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when hit.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Gates Avenue struck a 71-year-old male pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the vehicle impacted him with its right front bumper. The pedestrian sustained serious injuries, including fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites driver inattention and unsafe speed as contributing factors to the crash. The vehicle was going straight ahead with no reported damage. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. The police report explicitly identifies the driver’s inattention and unsafe speed as causes, emphasizing systemic dangers posed by distracted driving and speeding in pedestrian-heavy areas.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764717 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 17 - A 17-year-old girl was struck by an SUV turning right on Fulton Street. She suffered bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The crash happened mid-block, far from any intersection.

According to the police report, a 17-year-old female pedestrian was hit by a 2007 SUV making a right turn on Fulton Street. The impact came at the center front end of the vehicle. The teen was crossing away from an intersection and without a signal. She suffered contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver, a licensed man from New York, was alone in the SUV. The report lists no specific driver errors such as failure to yield. The only contributing factor noted is the pedestrian crossing without a signal. This crash shows the danger turning vehicles pose to people crossing outside marked crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765035 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19