No More Widows for Van Buren: Lower the Speed, Save a Life

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

Two sedans crashed at Stuyvesant and Macon. Both drivers injured. Police cite failure to yield by both. Metal twisted. Neck and back pain. Brooklyn street, afternoon light. System failed. Lives changed.

Two sedans collided at the intersection of Stuyvesant Avenue and Macon Street in Brooklyn. Both drivers, a 43-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman, suffered injuries—one to the back, the other to the neck. According to the police report, both drivers failed to yield the right-of-way. The crash left both vehicles damaged and both drivers hurt. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the sole contributing factor for both drivers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810538 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

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

A stolen Porsche sped through Brooklyn. Police set a trap. The driver tried to break through, nearly hitting an officer. A shot rang out. The car crashed. The driver died. The passenger survived. The street bore the cost.

According to the New York Post (April 30, 2025), police shot and killed the driver of a stolen Porsche after he "nearly struck an NYPD officer" while attempting to evade a roadblock near the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. Officers first noticed the vehicle due to stolen plates and tried to pull it over on Cropsey Avenue. The driver fled, leading police to set up a blockade. As the car tried to pass, an officer fired one round, striking the driver. The wounded man crashed into a police car and was later pronounced dead at Brookdale Hospital. The passenger was unharmed and taken into custody. The incident highlights the risks of high-speed chases and roadblocks in dense urban areas, where bystanders and officers face sudden danger.

• Police Shoot Driver At Brooklyn Roadblock, New York Post, Published 2025-04-30

A 101-year-old woman crossed with the light. An SUV turned left. The driver was unlicensed. She died days later. Her family mourns. The street remains the same.

According to the New York Post (April 24, 2025), Taibel Brod, 101, was fatally struck by a 2023 GMC Yukon while crossing Brooklyn Avenue at Montgomery Street in Crown Heights. Police say Brod had the light. The driver, Menachem Shagalow, 65, was unlicensed and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to exercise due care. The article quotes Brod's grandson: "She was extremely independent till her last day." Brod died less than two weeks after the crash. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians, especially from unlicensed drivers. Shagalow was released with a desk appearance ticket. The case underscores persistent gaps in enforcement and street design that leave vulnerable road users exposed.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Brooklyn Matriarch, New York Post, Published 2025-04-24

Two drivers hurt when SUVs collide on Malcolm X Blvd. Impact hits hard. Police cite illness as a factor. Streets run with risk. Metal crushes. People bleed.

Two SUVs crashed on Malcolm X Blvd at Pulaski St in Brooklyn. According to the police report, two drivers, a 34-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman, were injured. The crash involved multiple vehicles, with the main impact to the left side doors and center front end. Police list 'Illness' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors are noted in the report. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The data shows the injured drivers were wearing lap belts and harnesses.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807318 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An SUV hit a cyclist on Halsey Street in Brooklyn. The rider suffered a head injury and shock. Both vehicles were moving straight. The crash left the cyclist in pain.

A cyclist riding east on Halsey Street in Brooklyn was struck by an SUV also traveling east. The cyclist, a 57-year-old man, suffered a head injury and was in shock, reporting pain and nausea. According to the police report, both vehicles were going straight ahead when the crash occurred. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The SUV hit the center back end of the bike. No driver errors were specified in the data. The police report did not mention helmet use or signaling.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807639 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A young woman crossing Broadway with the signal was struck by an SUV making a left turn. She suffered arm injuries. Police cite failure to yield and driver distraction.

A 20-year-old woman was injured while crossing Broadway at Melrose Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal when a 2008 Honda SUV, turning left, struck her. The pedestrian suffered a contusion to her arm and remained conscious. Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The SUV's left front bumper was damaged. No injuries were reported for the vehicle occupant. The report does not mention any other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806517 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan hit a man in the crosswalk on Broadway. He crossed with the signal. The car’s front end struck his head. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield.

A sedan traveling south on Broadway struck a 47-year-old man who was crossing at the intersection with the signal. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a head injury and whiplash but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The impact was to the center front end of the sedan. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807622 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A speeding driver tore through a Brooklyn crosswalk. Three lives ended. One child clings to life. The car never slowed. The street became a grave. Metal and flesh collided. The city mourns. Justice waits in a courtroom.

According to NY Daily News (April 16, 2025), Miriam Yarimi drove 68 mph—nearly triple the speed limit—through a Brooklyn crosswalk, striking Natasha Saada and her three children. Prosecutors say Yarimi never braked, ran a red light, and crashed into another car before hitting the family. Saada and two daughters died; her son remains in a coma. Yarimi had a suspended license and $11,000 in unpaid violations, including 21 speed camera and five red light tickets. Brooklyn D.A. Eric Gonzalez called it 'one of the worst collisions I've ever seen on a New York City street.' Yarimi faces manslaughter and assault charges. The case highlights persistent enforcement gaps and the deadly consequences of unchecked reckless driving.

• Brooklyn Crash Kills Mother, Two Children, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-16

A sedan struck a 12-year-old girl crossing Gates Ave with the signal. She suffered a leg injury. Police cite driver inattention. The street stayed open. The car showed no damage.

A 12-year-old girl was hit by a sedan while crossing Gates Ave at Broadway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal when the driver, a 47-year-old man, struck her. The girl sustained a knee and lower leg injury. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The sedan, registered in Illinois, showed no damage. The driver was licensed. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805218 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan hit an 11-year-old girl on Quincy Street. She suffered a bruised leg. The car showed no damage. The crash left her conscious but hurt.

An 11-year-old girl walking outside the intersection at 616 Quincy Street in Brooklyn was struck by a sedan. According to the police report, the child suffered a contusion to her lower leg and remained conscious after the crash. The sedan, traveling east, showed no visible damage. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were identified in the data. The crash underscores the vulnerability of young pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805185 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A driver ran a stop sign in East New York. He slammed into a school bus. His passenger died. The bus driver was hurt. The driver fled but police caught him. The street stayed stained. The system failed to protect.

According to amNY (April 10, 2025), Tyree Epps faces charges after a deadly crash at Van Sinderen and Blake avenues. Epps, unlicensed, "blew a stop sign" and struck a school bus, killing his passenger, Imani Vance, and injuring the bus driver. The article quotes Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez: "The tragic loss of Imani Vance was allegedly caused by the defendant's reckless decision to ignore a stop sign and drive at excessive speeds." Epps left the scene, tried to escape in an Uber, and was arrested after fleeing on foot. The crash was one of three fatal Brooklyn incidents that weekend. City data cited in the article shows ongoing danger: at least 15 killed in Kings County so far this year, with thousands injured, often due to driver inattention and failure to yield. The charges and details highlight persistent risks and enforcement gaps on city streets.

• Brooklyn Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, amny, Published 2025-04-10

Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Council bill orders trees and plants on new medians between bike lanes and car traffic. Concrete gets green. Barriers grow roots. The city must build for life, not speed.

Int 1233-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced April 10, 2025, it demands new medians between bicycle lanes and motor vehicles be built for trees and vegetation, pending feasibility. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to the planting of vegetation on new medians separating bicycle lanes from motorized vehicle traffic.” Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads, joined by Bottcher, Ossé, Brannan, Hanif, and Brooks-Powers. They push the city to plant, or allow planting, in every new median. The law would take effect 120 days after passage. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 1233-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

A school bus veered off course in Flatbush. Metal crumpled. A woman and boy fell. The boy’s arm broke. The woman’s neck and hip throbbed. The bus smashed a fence. Sirens wailed. Both survived. The driver stayed. The city’s danger remained.

ABC7 reported on April 9, 2025, that a 66-year-old school bus driver struck a 43-year-old woman and an 8-year-old boy at Bedford Avenue and Farragut Road, Brooklyn. The driver told police he 'hit the gas instead of the brakes, jumped the curb and struck the pedestrians before smashing into a fence.' The woman suffered neck and hip pain; the boy’s arm broke. Both were hospitalized and are expected to survive. No charges were immediately filed. The bus remained at the scene. The article notes the investigation is ongoing. The incident highlights risks at intersections and the consequences of driver error, especially when large vehicles enter pedestrian space.

• School Bus Jumps Curb, Hits Two Pedestrians, ABC7, Published 2025-04-09

A 79-year-old woman crossing Broadway was hit by a vehicle. She suffered arm and shoulder injuries. Police cite driver inattention and confusion as factors.

A 79-year-old pedestrian was struck while crossing at a marked crosswalk near 948 Broadway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the woman suffered injuries to her upper arm and shoulder and was in shock. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, along with 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' The vehicle hit her with its center front end while going straight ahead. No details about the vehicle or driver were provided. Another occupant was listed as a witness. The crash highlights the danger faced by pedestrians, especially older adults, in city crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804531 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV turned right into moped on Broadway. Riders thrown, one injured. Police cite improper lane use and unsafe speed. Metal struck flesh. Streets stayed hard.

A station wagon/SUV turned right from Broadway onto Hart Street and collided with a northbound moped. According to the police report, both 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Unsafe Speed' contributed to the crash. The moped's driver, age 30, was partially ejected and suffered a knee and foot injury. His passenger, age 22, was also partially ejected but injuries were unspecified. The SUV driver, age 52, was not ejected and had no reported injuries. Helmets were used by the moped riders, as noted after the driver errors. The crash left vulnerable riders hurt while the SUV driver remained unscathed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804128 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04