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

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 24 - A sedan hit a cyclist at Classon Avenue and Greene Avenue in Brooklyn. The cyclist suffered a leg injury and was partially ejected. The crash left bruises and confusion. Both vehicles were moving straight. Streets stayed dangerous. No one died.

A crash occurred at the intersection of Classon Avenue and Greene Avenue in Brooklyn. A sedan and a bicycle collided while both were traveling straight. The cyclist, a 34-year-old man, was injured with a contusion and a lower leg wound. He was partially ejected but remained conscious. According to the police report, the contributing factor was 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield were listed in the data. The sedan’s left front bumper was damaged. No fatalities were reported. The police report did not mention helmet use or signaling as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816134 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 20 - SUV hit motorcycle on Nostrand. Rider ejected, leg injured. Police cite driver inattention. Impact tore through Brooklyn night.

A station wagon SUV and a motorcycle collided on Nostrand Avenue at Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash left the motorcycle rider, a 21-year-old man, ejected and injured in the leg. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The SUV struck the motorcycle's center back end. The motorcycle operator was unlicensed. No pedestrians were involved. No helmet use or signaling issues were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814509 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 18 - Sedans collided on Park Ave. U-turn attempt led to impact. Three drivers and an 8-year-old boy hurt. Failure to yield cited. Metal twisted. Pain followed.

A crash involving multiple sedans unfolded at 583 Park Ave in Brooklyn. Three drivers and an 8-year-old boy suffered injuries, including back, leg, and abdominal trauma. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' was a contributing factor. One sedan was making a U-turn when it struck another vehicle. Obstruction or debris also played a role. The child, riding as a rear passenger, was restrained but still injured. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists driver error as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814496 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - A car struck Maurette Lafleur in the crosswalk. She had the signal. The driver sped through. Bones broke. She died on Rutland Road. The street stayed loud. Witnesses watched. The city’s crackdown missed the real threat.

Streetsblog NYC reported on May 16, 2025, that a 68-year-old woman, Maurette Lafleur, was killed by a driver while crossing Rutland Road at E. 95th Street in East Flatbush. Lafleur was in the crosswalk with the walk signal when the driver of a 2025 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 struck her. A witness told Streetsblog, "The lady spin around and sped through," and described hearing the impact. The article notes that police have not released the driver's name. The incident occurred as NYPD focused enforcement on electric bikes, while drivers continue to cause deadly harm. The tragedy highlights the ongoing danger to pedestrians and raises questions about city policy and street design.

• Driver Kills Senior In East Flatbush, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-16

May 15 - A car struck Larry Maxwell, 72, on Sutter Avenue. The driver had just crashed into another vehicle and fled. Maxwell died at Brookdale Hospital. The driver did not stop. Police are still searching. No arrests. The street stayed quiet.

NY Daily News reported on May 15, 2025, that Larry Maxwell, 72, was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The article states, “An elderly man was mowed down and killed by a hit-and-run driver in Brooklyn on May 10, just seconds after the same driver smashed into a nearby vehicle.” The driver first collided with a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu, then continued on and struck Maxwell near Sutter Ave. and Osborn St. The Malibu’s occupants were uninjured and remained at the scene. The driver who killed Maxwell fled and remains unidentified. The NYPD Highway District collision investigation squad is investigating. No arrests have been made. The case highlights the lethal risk of fleeing drivers and the ongoing challenge of enforcement.

• Hit-And-Run Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-15

May 14 - A taxi struck on Franklin Avenue. Three young passengers hurt. Police cite driver inattention. Metal, glass, pain. Brooklyn night, lives changed.

Three passengers, ages 18, 19, and 22, suffered injuries to the head, leg, and arm when a taxi crashed on Franklin Avenue at Monroe Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was the contributing factor. The taxi's left side doors took the impact. The driver and another occupant were not reported injured. No other contributing factors were listed. The crash left three young men with whiplash and other injuries. Systemic danger persists when drivers lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812946 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 12 - Five killed. Forty badly hurt. Conduit Avenue runs fast and bare. No signals. No safe crossings. City now calls in neighbors. Promises change. Workshops open. Danger remains until streets change.

Gothamist reported on May 12, 2025, that the city will redesign Conduit Avenue, a three-mile stretch in Brooklyn and Queens where 'more than 40 serious injuries and five deaths' have occurred in five years. The corridor lacks basic pedestrian infrastructure and has 'long stretches without signalized crossings,' which encourages highway-speed driving through residential areas. The Department of Transportation is launching community workshops and an online feedback map to gather public input. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'Brooklyn and Queens Residents deserve a Conduit Boulevard that improves daily life, not a roadway that puts pedestrians and drivers at risk.' The redesign aims to address systemic dangers and create safer, more connected streets.

• City Plans Overhaul Of Conduit Corridor, Gothamist, Published 2025-05-12

May 9 - A driver struck a 29-year-old cyclist on Tompkins Ave. The crash left her with arm abrasions. Police cite driver inattention and improper lane use. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

A 29-year-old woman riding her bike south on Tompkins Avenue in Brooklyn was injured when a vehicle making a left turn struck her. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' The cyclist suffered abrasions to her arm. No vehicle damage was reported. The report lists no helmet or signaling issues for the cyclist. The crash highlights the risks faced by cyclists when drivers fail to pay attention or use lanes properly.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811521 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 8 - A distracted sedan driver struck a cyclist on Tompkins Avenue. The cyclist, a 30-year-old woman, suffered a leg injury. Impact was sudden. Streets stayed dangerous.

A sedan hit a cyclist on Tompkins Avenue near Willoughby Avenue in Brooklyn. The 30-year-old female cyclist was injured in her leg and remained conscious. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely.' The cyclist was partially ejected and wore a helmet. The sedan was entering a parked position when it struck the cyclist, who was riding straight. The report lists no damage to either vehicle. No pedestrians or passengers were reported hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811449 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 8 - A police cruiser slammed into a Nissan at a Brooklyn intersection. Sirens wailed. Metal twisted. An officer lay critically hurt. The Nissan driver survived. The street bore the scars. Another night, another crash. The city keeps moving.

ABC7 reported on May 8, 2025, that an NYPD officer was critically injured when a marked police vehicle collided with a white Nissan Rogue at Willoughby Avenue and Walworth Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Officers were responding to a 911 call for an armed man. The article states, “A marked NYPD vehicle was traveling eastbound on Willoughby Avenue when it collided with a white Nissan Rogue traveling northbound on Walworth Street.” The officer was hospitalized in critical but stable condition; the Nissan driver, age 28, was also hospitalized and is stable. The crash highlights the dangers at intersections, especially during emergency responses. The investigation continues, with no details yet on contributing factors or policy changes.

• NYPD Cruiser Collides With Nissan In Brooklyn, ABC7, Published 2025-05-08

May 7 - Two SUVs crashed on Walworth Street. Both drivers injured. One struck in the head, left unconscious. Police cite traffic control disregarded. Metal and bodies broke in Brooklyn night.

Two SUVs crashed at Walworth Street and Willoughby Avenue in Brooklyn. Both drivers, men aged 28 and 31, were injured. One suffered head trauma and was found unconscious. The other complained of back pain. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' Both vehicles sustained front and rear damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811310 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 6 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

May 6 - A principal drove down Lenox Road, lost control, hit parked cars, and flipped his vehicle. Police pulled him from the wreck. He refused a Breathalyzer. Charges followed. The street bore the scars. The system let him drive. The danger stayed.

According to NY Daily News (2025-05-06), Gregory Jackson, principal of Brownsville Collaborative Middle School, crashed on Lenox Road near Utica Ave. Police say he struck several parked cars and overturned his vehicle around 11:30 p.m. Jackson told police he had 'only one drink.' He refused a Breathalyzer test at the scene. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while impaired, and refusing the test. The Department of Education referred questions to the NYPD. The incident highlights the ongoing risk posed by impaired drivers and the vulnerability of anyone near city streets, even when parked. Systemic gaps allow such danger to persist.

• Principal Overturns Car In Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-06

May 5 - SUV hit a twelve-year-old boy outside the crosswalk on Stockton Street. The child suffered a bruised leg. Police list all factors as unspecified. The driver was licensed and uninjured.

A twelve-year-old pedestrian was struck by an SUV on Stockton Street near Tompkins Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child was not at an intersection when the collision occurred and suffered a contusion to the lower leg. The driver, a licensed woman, was not injured. Police list all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the report. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811027 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 5 - NYPD targets cyclists with harsh enforcement. Riders face tickets and criminal charges for routine acts. Streetsblog exposes the crackdown. Outrage erupts. Critics warn of racial targeting and danger. The policy punishes the vulnerable. Safety for cyclists erodes.

On May 5, 2025, Streetsblog NYC, led by reporter David Meyer, exposed a new NYPD enforcement policy criminalizing common cycling violations. The article, 'Monday’s Headlines: NYPD Bike Crackdown Edition,' revealed that the crackdown would sweep 14 corridors across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest called the policy 'incredibly misguided' and 'unacceptable.' MSNBC’s Chris Hayes called it 'outrageous' and warned it targets immigrant delivery cyclists. The New York Civil Liberties Union warned of amplified racially targeted policing. The safety analyst notes: 'Criminalizing common cycling violations places undue burdens on cyclists, discourages cycling, and may reduce mode shift, ultimately undermining safety in numbers and street equity for vulnerable road users.' No council bill or committee action is involved, but the crackdown stands as a systemic threat to cyclists and street safety.

• Monday’s Headlines: NYPD Bike Crackdown Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-05

May 4 - SUV slammed into sedans on Tompkins Ave. Three men hurt. Blood on the street. Police cite driver distraction. System failed to protect riders. Metal and flesh, broken again.

A crash on Tompkins Ave in Brooklyn left three men injured. According to the police report, a station wagon/SUV struck two sedans. One rear passenger suffered severe head bleeding. Two others, a driver and a front passenger, sustained whiplash. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main cause. No helmet or signal issues were cited. The SUV driver was licensed; one sedan driver was unlicensed. The crash again shows how distraction behind the wheel harms those inside. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810785 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 4 - A volunteer EMT hit a 19-year-old crossing McDonald Avenue. The crash happened at night. Lights and sirens blared. The young man suffered severe head trauma. Medics rushed him to the hospital. The driver stayed. Police are investigating.

According to NY Daily News (2025-05-04), a Hatzolah volunteer EMT driving a smart car struck a 19-year-old pedestrian at McDonald Avenue and Avenue P in Brooklyn around 1:20 a.m. The article states, “The 39-year-old driver was behind the wheel of a smart car for the ambulance service, going north on McDonald Ave., lights and sirens on, when he struck the pedestrian as he was crossing.” The pedestrian suffered critical head injuries and was transported to Maimonides Hospital. The driver remained at the scene. Police are investigating the crash. The incident highlights the risks faced by pedestrians, even when emergency vehicles are present. No charges have been filed as of publication.

• EMT Strikes Pedestrian On McDonald Ave, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-04

May 2 - A sedan turned left on Dekalb Avenue. A cyclist rode straight. The car struck the cyclist. The cyclist suffered a leg injury. Police cite failure to yield.

A sedan making a left turn on Dekalb Avenue collided with a cyclist traveling straight. The cyclist, a 54-year-old man, was injured in the leg. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The cyclist was wearing a helmet. No other injuries were reported. The data shows the driver’s error led to the crash. The impact left the cyclist hurt and the car damaged on the left side.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810105 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01