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

Aug 20 - A sedan traveling south on Franklin Avenue struck a 19-year-old bicyclist changing lanes. The cyclist was partially ejected and suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited improper lane usage by the vehicle as a contributing factor to the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:15 on Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn. A sedan, driven by a licensed male driver, was traveling straight south when it collided with a bicyclist who was changing lanes. The point of impact was the sedan's right front quarter panel. The 19-year-old male bicyclist was partially ejected and sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the vehicle driver's contributing factor. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. No other contributing factors related to the victim were noted. The collision caused damage to the sedan's right front quarter panel, while the bike sustained no damage. The police report highlights driver error in lane usage as central to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750422 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 17 - An 82-year-old man crossed Quincy Street with the signal. An SUV turned, struck his head, left him bleeding and still. The man died at the scene. The SUV showed no damage. The street swallowed another life.

According to the police report, an 82-year-old pedestrian was crossing Quincy Street at Marcy Avenue in Brooklyn, using the crosswalk and obeying the signal. As he crossed, a station wagon/SUV making a left turn struck him with its right front bumper, causing a fatal head injury. The report notes the man was left unconscious and bleeding, and he did not survive. The SUV sustained no visible damage. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' but the narrative details that the pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the turning vehicle hit him. The collision underscores the lethal risk posed to pedestrians by turning vehicles, even when victims follow traffic signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749067 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 16 - A motorscooter collided with an SUV on Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn. The scooter driver, unlicensed and helmeted, suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited traffic control disregard by the scooter driver as a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:28 on Myrtle Avenue near Walworth Street in Brooklyn. A motorscooter traveling east struck a northbound SUV. The scooter driver, a 32-year-old male, was wearing a helmet but was unlicensed. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor attributed to the scooter driver. The impact point was the center front end of the scooter and the left front quarter panel of the SUV. The scooter driver sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises. The driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The police report highlights the scooter driver's failure to obey traffic control as a primary cause of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748539 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Aug 14 - A 23-year-old woman suffered head injuries and shock after a BMW sedan struck her while she crossed Franklin Avenue against the signal. The driver, making a right turn, was inattentive, impacting the pedestrian’s right front quarter panel.

According to the police report, a 23-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Fulton Street in Brooklyn around 3:30 p.m. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when she was struck by a 2017 BMW sedan traveling south and making a right turn. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front quarter panel, causing contusions and head injuries to the pedestrian, who was left in shock. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally, but failed to maintain attention during the maneuver. The pedestrian’s crossing against the signal is noted but not identified as a contributing factor in the crash, which centers on the driver’s distraction and failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748099 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 13 - SUV driver distracted. Changed lanes. Hit motorcycle on Nostrand Avenue. Rider thrown, whole body injured. Helmet worn. Brooklyn night. Metal and flesh met hard.

According to the police report, a licensed SUV driver changed lanes on Nostrand Avenue near Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn at 9:45 p.m. The SUV's left rear quarter panel struck the front of a southbound motorcycle. The 58-year-old motorcyclist, wearing a helmet, was ejected and suffered severe injuries to his entire body. He was semiconscious, reporting pain and nausea. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for the SUV driver. No contributing factors were cited for the motorcyclist. The crash underscores the danger of distracted lane changes to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756068 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 13 - A 22-year-old man suffered full-body abrasions after a taxi hit him while crossing Flushing Avenue outside a crosswalk. The taxi, traveling west, struck the pedestrian with its front center. The victim was conscious but injured severely.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a 2014 Toyota taxi traveling west on Flushing Avenue struck him outside a crosswalk. The point of impact was the taxi's center front end, causing abrasions over the pedestrian's entire body. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk, but the report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, indicating no clear pedestrian fault was assigned. The taxi driver was licensed and going straight ahead at the time of the crash. Vehicle damage was limited to the front center end. The report highlights the systemic danger of vehicles striking pedestrians outside designated crossings and notes the absence of explicit driver errors such as failure to yield, though the pedestrian was not at an intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749727 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 29 - Two drivers collided left side to left side on Halsey Street. Both hurt. Eye cut. Pick-up and SUV. Distraction and bad lane use listed. Brooklyn night. Metal and flesh met hard.

According to the police report, a pick-up truck and an SUV crashed into each other’s left sides on Halsey Street in Brooklyn at 11:12 p.m. Both drivers were licensed and headed straight. The pick-up driver, a 53-year-old man, suffered an eye abrasion but remained conscious. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The crash left both vehicles damaged along their left doors. No victim actions contributed, per the report. The impact and injuries show the cost of driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4745438 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 22 - A northbound sedan rear-ended a stopped vehicle on Throop Avenue. The front passenger in the struck vehicle suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Driver inattention and distraction caused the crash, according to the police report.

At 11:08 AM on Throop Avenue, a northbound sedan rear-ended a vehicle stopped in traffic, striking it at the center back end, according to the police report. The front passenger of the struck vehicle, a 63-year-old woman, sustained neck injuries described as whiplash and was conscious after the crash. She was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The police report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the collision. The sedan driver failed to maintain attention, causing the impact. No other contributing factors related to the passenger's behavior were noted. The crash resulted in center front end damage to the striking sedan and center back end damage to the struck vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4744613 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 19 - A 54-year-old male moped driver suffered a contusion to his elbow and lower arm after a 2018 SUV made a right turn and struck the moped’s front center. The crash occurred on Franklin Avenue at 1:00 a.m., with driver distraction and unsafe speed cited.

According to the police report, a 2018 Toyota SUV traveling southwest was making a right turn on Franklin Avenue when it collided with a southbound moped. The moped driver, a 54-year-old male, sustained a contusion bruise to his elbow and lower arm but was conscious and not ejected. The point of impact was the right front quarter panel of the SUV and the center front end of the moped. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors for both vehicles, with the moped driver also cited for unsafe speed. The SUV driver was licensed and operating the vehicle during the crash. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The collision highlights driver errors, particularly distraction and unsafe speed, as central causes of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741626 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 18 - A 24-year-old moped driver was ejected and suffered bruises after a sedan rear-ended him on Bedford Avenue. The crash involved driver inattention and following too closely. The moped rider wore a helmet but endured full-body injuries.

According to the police report, the collision occurred on Bedford Avenue around 5 p.m. A 24-year-old male moped driver, wearing a helmet, was traveling north when a 1998 Audi sedan, also heading north, struck the moped from behind. The impact was centered on the sedan's front end and the moped's rear. The moped driver was ejected and sustained contusions and bruises over his entire body, classified as injury severity level 3. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors attributed to the sedan driver. The moped driver was conscious after the crash. These details highlight the sedan driver's failure to maintain a safe distance and attention, leading to a violent rear-end collision that severely injured the vulnerable moped rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741621 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 17 - A man on a bike hit the pavement hard in Brooklyn. He suffered a neck wound and shock. Police say traffic control was ignored. No other injuries. The street stayed quiet. The system failed him.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old male bicyclist traveling east on Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn was ejected from his bike and suffered a neck injury with minor bleeding and shock. The crash occurred at 11:54 AM. The report lists "Traffic Control Disregarded" as a contributing factor. No other vehicles were damaged and no other injuries were reported. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment, as noted in the report. The incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743331 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 11 - Council Member Chi Ossé joined activists at Nostrand Avenue station. They blasted Governor Hochul’s pause on congestion pricing. The delay halts elevator upgrades, trapping seniors, parents, and disabled riders. The street outside roars with traffic. The subway stays out of reach.

On July 11, 2024, Council Member Chi Ossé (District 36) stood with Riders Alliance and other advocates outside the Nostrand Avenue subway station. They protested Governor Kathy Hochul’s June 5 decision to suspend congestion pricing, a move that froze $16.5 billion in MTA upgrades, including elevators for Bed-Stuy’s busy station. The event, covered by brooklynpaper.com, highlighted the urgent need for accessibility: 'We want our elevators, we want our service, and we want it now,' said State Sen. Jabari Brisport. Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest called the delay a denial of basic rights. Ossé called Hochul’s move 'an attack on our most vulnerable constituents.' Only a quarter of city stations are wheelchair-accessible. The hold traps thousands—seniors, parents, disabled riders—forcing them to risk dangerous streets or skip transit altogether.

• Activists rail against Hochul’s congestion pricing delay, call for accessibility upgrades to Bed-Stuy subway station, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-07-11

Jul 11 - Council Member Chi Ossé joined activists at Nostrand Avenue station. They blasted Governor Hochul’s pause on congestion pricing. The delay halts elevator upgrades, trapping seniors, parents, and disabled riders. The street outside roars with traffic. The subway stays out of reach.

On July 11, 2024, Council Member Chi Ossé (District 36) stood with Riders Alliance and other advocates outside the Nostrand Avenue subway station. They protested Governor Kathy Hochul’s June 5 decision to suspend congestion pricing, a move that froze $16.5 billion in MTA upgrades, including elevators for Bed-Stuy’s busy station. The event, covered by brooklynpaper.com, highlighted the urgent need for accessibility: 'We want our elevators, we want our service, and we want it now,' said State Sen. Jabari Brisport. Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest called the delay a denial of basic rights. Ossé called Hochul’s move 'an attack on our most vulnerable constituents.' Only a quarter of city stations are wheelchair-accessible. The hold traps thousands—seniors, parents, disabled riders—forcing them to risk dangerous streets or skip transit altogether.

• Activists rail against Hochul’s congestion pricing delay, call for accessibility upgrades to Bed-Stuy subway station, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-07-11

Jul 8 - A 37-year-old moped driver was ejected and injured on Tompkins Avenue after a left-turn crash. Driver inattention and improper lane use led to violent impact and serious leg injuries.

According to the police report, a 37-year-old moped driver was making a left turn on Tompkins Avenue at 21:25 when he collided with a vehicle traveling straight south. The moped's left front quarter panel took the hit, ejecting the driver. He suffered contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The moped driver wore a helmet, but distraction and improper lane use drove the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739457 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 5 - A 50-year-old female bicyclist was ejected and injured in a collision with a sedan on Franklin Avenue. The sedan struck the cyclist's left side doors with its right front quarter panel. Driver inattention and inexperience contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Franklin Avenue involving a sedan and a bicycle traveling southbound. The sedan, driven by an unidentified driver, was going straight ahead when it impacted the bicyclist on the left side doors with its right front quarter panel. The bicyclist, a 50-year-old female, was ejected from her bike and sustained injuries to her hip and upper leg, including contusions and bruises. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors to the crash. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. Vehicle damage was noted on the bike's left rear quarter panel, while the sedan showed no damage. The collision highlights the dangers posed by driver errors such as inattention and lack of experience.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743334 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 2 - State senators debate cutting the $15 congestion toll. Brad Hoylman-Sigal backs a lower fee if safety and transit gains hold. Liz Krueger wants $1 billion for the MTA. Jabari Brisport slams the rushed process. Trump vows to kill the tolls.

On July 2, 2024, state lawmakers, including Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (District 47), discussed reducing the $15 base congestion pricing fee. The debate, reported by Gothamist, centers on whether a lower toll could unfreeze the program while still funding the MTA. Hoylman-Sigal said, "Nobody's wedded to $15. We are wedded to the improvements that congestion pricing will provide for mass transit or safety on our streets for cleaner air." Sen. Liz Krueger is open to a new fee if it raises $1 billion yearly. Sen. Jabari Brisport criticized the lack of study and feedback in the process, calling it "irresponsible." Any change needs legislative, MTA, and federal approval. Trump has promised to end congestion pricing if elected. No formal safety analysis was provided for vulnerable road users.

• NY lawmakers weigh lower congestion pricing fee – but Trump could kill tolls if elected, gothamist.com, Published 2024-07-02

Jul 2 - SUV hit a 30-year-old woman crossing Nostrand Avenue with the signal. Driver failed to yield and was inattentive. Pedestrian suffered full-body bruises. Impact left SUV damaged. System failed to protect her.

According to the police report, a 30-year-old woman was crossing Nostrand Avenue with the signal when a Ford SUV making a left turn struck her. The driver failed to yield right-of-way and was inattentive or distracted. The pedestrian suffered contusions and bruises to her entire body. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The SUV's left front quarter panel was damaged in the crash. The incident underscores driver errors in yielding and attention as direct causes of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737761 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 1 - A 51-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and suffered full-body contusions after a collision caused by driver inattention and following too closely. The crash occurred on Brooklyn Avenue, leaving the rider injured but conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:20 on Brooklyn Avenue involving a bicyclist and an unspecified vehicle traveling south. The bicyclist, a 51-year-old man, was ejected and sustained contusions across his entire body. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The vehicle's point of impact was the left front quarter panel, while the bicyclist's bike was struck on the right front quarter panel. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The driver’s failure to maintain proper attention and safe following distance directly contributed to the collision and the bicyclist’s injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737765 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 27 - A motorcycle changing lanes struck a bicyclist traveling straight on Fulton Street in Brooklyn. The 29-year-old bicyclist was ejected and suffered a fractured shoulder and dislocation. Police cite improper lane usage and driver distraction as causes.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:15 on Fulton Street in Brooklyn. A motorcycle traveling west was changing lanes when it collided head-on with a bicyclist traveling east. The bicyclist, a 29-year-old male, was ejected from his bike and sustained a fractured and dislocated upper arm. The report identifies the motorcycle driver's errors as "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction." The bike showed front-end damage, while the motorcycle had no visible damage. The bicyclist was conscious but seriously injured. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the bicyclist's actions or safety equipment. This crash highlights the dangers posed by driver lane changes and inattention in Brooklyn traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737333 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19