Dragged to Death—How Many More Before City Hall Acts?
Bedford-Stuyvesant (East): Jan 1, 2022 - Jun 4, 2025
The Toll in Flesh and Blood
A woman steps out of her car on Van Buren Street. She is pregnant. She is struck from behind, dragged down the street, and left to die. Her husband says, “I lost my whole family tonight and I don’t think I’ll ever be the same” (NY Daily News).
In the last twelve months, 2 people have died and 383 have been injured on these streets. Five were left with serious injuries. These are not just numbers. They are names, faces, families torn open. SUVs and sedans did most of the killing and wounding. The violence is steady, not sudden. It is a slow bleed.
The Pattern: Hit, Run, Repeat
The driver who killed Tiffany Cifuni did not stop. He crashed into two more cars, then ran. A witness said, “They dragged her like to the middle of the street, and then they turned wrong up Lafayette and she was just left there” (NY Daily News).
This is not rare. In Bedford-Stuyvesant (East), the last three years brought 4 deaths and over 1,200 injuries. Pedestrians, cyclists, children—the most vulnerable pay the highest price. Cars and SUVs are the main weapons. Trucks, bikes, and mopeds add to the toll.
Leadership: Words, Laws, and Waiting
City leaders say they want zero deaths. They passed Sammy’s Law. They talk about lowering speed limits and adding cameras. But in this district, the blood keeps flowing. Promises do not slow a car. Laws do not save a life unless enforced. Every day of delay is another day someone does not come home.
What Comes Next
Call your council member. Call the mayor. Demand a 20 mph speed limit. Demand speed cameras that work all day, every day. Demand streets that put people before cars.
Do not wait for another name to be added to the list.
Citations
▸ Citations
- Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-05-25
- Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-26
- Driver Runs Down Woman After Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-25
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794925, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-04
- Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Hit-And-Run, New York Post, Published 2025-05-26
- Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-05-25
- Boy Injured Crossing Between Subway Cars, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-26
▸ Other Geographies
Bedford-Stuyvesant (East) Bedford-Stuyvesant (East) sits in Brooklyn, Precinct 81, District 36, AD 56, SD 25, Brooklyn CB3.
▸ See also
Traffic Safety Timeline for Bedford-Stuyvesant (East)
2Two Sedans Collide on Fulton Street▸Two sedans crashed at Fulton Street in Brooklyn. One driver made a left turn into the path of another going straight. Both drivers suffered neck and back injuries. Alcohol was involved. Both drivers were conscious and not ejected from their vehicles.
According to the police report, two sedans collided at 1600 Fulton Street, Brooklyn. One driver was making a left turn while the other was traveling straight westbound. Both drivers sustained injuries: a 32-year-old woman suffered neck injuries, and a 31-year-old man suffered back injuries. Both were conscious and remained inside their vehicles. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. The left-turning driver likely failed to yield to the oncoming vehicle. No other contributing factors were specified. Neither driver was ejected. The report notes the male driver was wearing a lap belt; safety equipment for the female driver is unknown.
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Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497887,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-18
Pedestrian Hit by Left-Turning Sedan in Brooklyn▸A 29-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck by a northbound sedan making a left turn on De Kalb Avenue. The driver’s inattention and improper turning caused a head injury. The pedestrian suffered shock and complaints of pain and nausea.
According to the police report, a 29-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of De Kalb Avenue and Reid Avenue in Brooklyn. She was crossing with the signal when a northbound sedan made a left turn and struck her with its left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and was in shock, complaining of pain and nausea. The report lists driver errors as contributing factors: Driver Inattention/Distraction and Turning Improperly. The vehicle showed no damage. No safety equipment or pedestrian fault was noted in the report.
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Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4492923,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-18
Two sedans crashed at Fulton Street in Brooklyn. One driver made a left turn into the path of another going straight. Both drivers suffered neck and back injuries. Alcohol was involved. Both drivers were conscious and not ejected from their vehicles.
According to the police report, two sedans collided at 1600 Fulton Street, Brooklyn. One driver was making a left turn while the other was traveling straight westbound. Both drivers sustained injuries: a 32-year-old woman suffered neck injuries, and a 31-year-old man suffered back injuries. Both were conscious and remained inside their vehicles. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. The left-turning driver likely failed to yield to the oncoming vehicle. No other contributing factors were specified. Neither driver was ejected. The report notes the male driver was wearing a lap belt; safety equipment for the female driver is unknown.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497887, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18
Pedestrian Hit by Left-Turning Sedan in Brooklyn▸A 29-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck by a northbound sedan making a left turn on De Kalb Avenue. The driver’s inattention and improper turning caused a head injury. The pedestrian suffered shock and complaints of pain and nausea.
According to the police report, a 29-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of De Kalb Avenue and Reid Avenue in Brooklyn. She was crossing with the signal when a northbound sedan made a left turn and struck her with its left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and was in shock, complaining of pain and nausea. The report lists driver errors as contributing factors: Driver Inattention/Distraction and Turning Improperly. The vehicle showed no damage. No safety equipment or pedestrian fault was noted in the report.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4492923,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-18
A 29-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck by a northbound sedan making a left turn on De Kalb Avenue. The driver’s inattention and improper turning caused a head injury. The pedestrian suffered shock and complaints of pain and nausea.
According to the police report, a 29-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of De Kalb Avenue and Reid Avenue in Brooklyn. She was crossing with the signal when a northbound sedan made a left turn and struck her with its left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and was in shock, complaining of pain and nausea. The report lists driver errors as contributing factors: Driver Inattention/Distraction and Turning Improperly. The vehicle showed no damage. No safety equipment or pedestrian fault was noted in the report.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4492923, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-18