Crash Count for Bedford-Stuyvesant (East)
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 2,614
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 1,405
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 342
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 11
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 5
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Jul 26, 2025

Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in Bedford-Stuyvesant (East)?

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

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

Bedford-Stuyvesant (East): Jan 1, 2022 - Jun 19, 2025

Blood on the Asphalt: The Human Cost

A woman steps out of her car on Van Buren Street. She is pregnant. She is struck, dragged, and left to die. Her name is Tiffany Cifuni. 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, two people have died on these streets. Four more suffered serious injuries. There have been 376 injuries in 590 crashes. The numbers do not bleed, but the people do.

Patterns of Harm: Who Pays the Price

SUVs and cars kill. In this region, SUVs alone have taken three lives and caused 71 moderate injuries. Trucks and buses have left two people with serious wounds. Bikes and mopeds break bones and skin, but it is the weight of steel that crushes and ends lives (NYC Open Data).

The dead are not numbers. They are the 32-year-old woman run down after a minor crash. The 68-year-old woman struck while crossing with the signal. The 26-year-old moped rider, ejected and killed. Each one is a family torn open.

Leadership: Words, Laws, and Waiting

Local leaders talk of Vision Zero. They pass laws. They call for lower speed limits. But the blood dries before the ink. “We will not rest until it’s over and we get justice for Tiffany,” her family says (New York Post).

Sammy’s Law gives the city power to lower speed limits to 20 mph. The city can act. It has not acted fast enough. Cameras catch speeders, but Albany must renew the law or the cameras go dark. Every delay is another risk, another family waiting for a call in the night.

What Now: No More Waiting

This is not fate. This is policy. Every crash is preventable. Every death is a choice made by those in power. Call your council member. Call the mayor. Demand a 20 mph speed limit. Demand cameras that never sleep. Demand streets where no one has to bury their child.

Take action now.

Citations

Citations

Other Representatives

Stefani Zinerman
Assembly Member Stefani Zinerman
District 56
District Office:
1368 Fulton St. 3rd Floor, NW, Brooklyn, NY 11216
Legislative Office:
Room 553, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
Chi Ossé
Council Member Chi Ossé
District 36
District Office:
1360 Fulton Street, Suite 500, Brooklyn, NY 11216
718-919-0740
Legislative Office:
250 Broadway, Suite 1743, New York, NY 10007
212-788-7354
Twitter: CMOsse
Jabari Brisport
State Senator Jabari Brisport
District 25
District Office:
906 Broadway 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11206
Legislative Office:
Room 805, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247
Other Geographies

Bedford-Stuyvesant (East) Bedford-Stuyvesant (East) sits in Brooklyn, Precinct 81, District 36, AD 56, SD 25, Brooklyn CB3.

See also
Boroughs
City Council Districts
Community Boards
State_assembly_districts
State Senate Districts

Traffic Safety Timeline for Bedford-Stuyvesant (East)

S 131
Brisport co-sponsors bill to consider, not require, complete street design.

Senate bill S 131 demands complete street design for state-funded projects. Sponsors push for safer roads. Guidance will go public. Streets could change. Pedestrians and cyclists stand to gain.

Senate bill S 131 was introduced on January 8, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding,' aims to force safer street planning. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan leads, joined by co-sponsors Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, Samra Brouk, Cordell Cleare, Leroy Comrie, Jeremy Cooney, Nathalia Fernandez, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Robert Jackson, Rachel May, Kevin S. Parker, Christopher Ryan, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill also orders the department to publish guidance on street design. No safety analyst note was provided.


A 1077
Zinerman co-sponsors bill boosting street safety for all users.

Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.


Audi Driver Drags Man Half Mile

A white Audi struck Michael Foster on Caton Avenue. The car dragged him for blocks. The driver never stopped. Foster died in the street. The Audi vanished into the night. No arrests. The city’s danger stays.

NY Daily News reported on January 1, 2025, that Michael Foster, 64, was killed after a white Audi hit him on Caton Ave. near Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn. The driver, described as speeding, dragged Foster for half a mile before leaving him near Linden Blvd. and Nostrand Ave. The article quotes a witness: "I saw him at the stop light. He would go out to the cars and beg for change." The driver fled the scene and has not been caught. No arrests have been made. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians in city streets and the ongoing issue of hit-and-run drivers evading responsibility.


Sedan Left Turn Hits Southbound Moped

A sedan making a left turn collided head-on with a southbound moped on Broadway in Brooklyn. The moped driver was ejected and suffered severe leg injuries. The sedan’s front center bore the impact, highlighting driver error in turn judgment.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:04 on Broadway near Vernon Ave in Brooklyn. A 2018 Honda sedan, traveling north and making a left turn, struck a 2023 moped traveling south straight ahead. The point of impact was the center front end of both vehicles. The moped driver, a 30-year-old male, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained serious injuries including fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The sedan driver was licensed and female. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but the critical driver error was the sedan’s left turn into the path of the moped. The moped driver’s license status was not provided. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision underscores the dangers posed by turning vehicles failing to yield to oncoming traffic.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782723 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Sedan Hits Bicyclist on Utica Avenue

A sedan struck a 35-year-old male bicyclist traveling south on Utica Avenue. The cyclist suffered upper arm abrasions and remained conscious. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield as key factors in the collision’s impact and injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred around 12:30 PM on Utica Avenue near Fulton Street. A southbound sedan collided with a southbound bicyclist, impacting the cyclist’s right front quarter panel. The bicyclist, a 35-year-old male, sustained abrasions to his shoulder and upper arm but was conscious and not ejected from his bike. The report identifies driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors to the crash. The sedan driver’s errors directly led to the collision and injuries. The bicyclist’s safety equipment status is unknown, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. Vehicle damage was noted on the bike’s right front quarter panel, while the sedan showed no damage. This crash underscores the dangers posed by distracted drivers failing to yield to vulnerable road users.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782481 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Cars Crushed Between Bus And Truck

Metal groaned on Nostrand Avenue. Two cars trapped, one stacked atop the other. A bus driver, a woman, a girl—hurt but alive. Emergency crews worked fast. The street bore the scars. The cause stayed hidden in the wreckage.

NY Daily News reported on December 18, 2024, that a multi-vehicle crash at Nostrand Ave. and Park Ave. in Brooklyn left three people injured. The article states, 'Three people were injured, including an MTA bus driver and a young girl, in a collision that pinned two cars between a box truck and a city bus.' Footage showed two vehicles sandwiched between the bus and truck, with one car stacked atop another. The injured included a 59-year-old MTA driver, a 33-year-old woman, and a 9-year-old girl. All were hospitalized in stable condition. The cause of the crash was not determined at the time of reporting. The incident highlights the risks at busy intersections and the dangers posed by large vehicles in dense urban traffic.


Distracted SUV Turns Into Moped, Injures Rider

A 61-year-old moped driver was ejected and injured after a Ford SUV made a left turn and struck him head-on on Throop Avenue. Both drivers were distracted, with the moped driver also misusing the lane, compounding the crash’s severity.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Throop Avenue in Brooklyn around 2:45 PM. A 61-year-old male moped driver, traveling north and unlicensed, was struck by a northbound Ford SUV making a left turn. The moped suffered center front end damage, and the SUV’s left front bumper was impacted. The moped driver was ejected and sustained hip and upper leg injuries, described as contusions and bruises. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' for both drivers and notes 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' for the moped rider. The moped driver wore a helmet, but the police report does not list this as a contributing factor. The SUV driver was licensed and female. The collision highlights critical driver errors—distraction and improper lane use—that led to a violent impact and serious injury.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779506 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Distracted Driver Hits Boy Crossing With Signal

An 11-year-old boy suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a distracted driver made a right turn and struck him at a Brooklyn intersection. The child was crossing with the signal when the vehicle’s front center impacted him, causing pain and shock.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:00 p.m. on Gates Avenue near Malcolm X Boulevard in Brooklyn. The driver, traveling south and making a right turn, struck an 11-year-old pedestrian who was crossing with the signal at the intersection. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The boy sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was in shock, complaining of pain or nausea. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact at the center front end. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. This incident highlights the critical role of driver distraction in pedestrian injuries at intersections.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777847 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Sedan Strikes Elderly Pedestrian Crossing With Signal

A 75-year-old man suffered upper leg injuries and shock after a sedan struck him at a Brooklyn intersection. The driver, making a left turn, failed to pay attention, hitting the pedestrian who was crossing with the signal. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a 75-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a 2022 sedan, driven by a licensed female driver, struck him at the intersection of Stuyvesant Ave and Monroe St in Brooklyn at 16:55. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The driver was making a left turn and the point of impact was the left front bumper of the sedan. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to the hip and upper leg, resulting in shock. Despite the impact, the vehicle sustained no damage. The report explicitly identifies driver error, with no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777845 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Brooklyn Driver Fails to Yield, Injures Pedestrian

A 66-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck on Broadway near Flushing Ave. The driver hit her on the right rear quarter panel. The pedestrian suffered a hip and upper leg contusion, remaining conscious after the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:30 AM on Broadway near Flushing Ave in Brooklyn. The pedestrian, a 66-year-old female, was crossing the street with the signal when she was struck by a vehicle traveling east. The point of impact was the vehicle's right rear quarter panel, which sustained damage. The pedestrian suffered injuries to her hip and upper leg, described as contusions and bruises, and remained conscious. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the driver as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. The driver’s failure to yield created a hazardous condition that led to the pedestrian’s injury.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778086 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Driver Distraction Causes Multi-Vehicle Crash in Brooklyn

A distracted driver triggered a collision involving three northbound vehicles on Malcolm X Blvd. The crash left a 58-year-old sedan driver semiconscious with injuries. Police cite driver inattention as the primary factor in the chain reaction crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:10 AM on Malcolm X Blvd in Brooklyn. Three northbound vehicles—a 2024 Kia SUV, a 2015 Toyota sedan, and a 2005 Honda SUV—were involved. The Toyota sedan, driven by a 58-year-old man, was slowing or stopping when the crash occurred. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The sedan driver was injured, described as semiconscious with complaints of pain or nausea. The Honda SUV driver was unlicensed, adding to the systemic danger. The Kia SUV was parked before impact. The collision damaged the left rear quarter panels of the sedan and Kia SUV and the right front quarter panel of the Honda SUV. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors, focusing on driver errors and license status.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776887 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Int 1138-2024
Mealy co-sponsors bill to ban parking near crosswalks, boosting street safety.

Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.


Int 1138-2024
Ossé co-sponsors bill to ban parking near crosswalks, boosting street safety.

Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.


Driver Drags Person, Hits Pregnant Woman

A city worker crashed into three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, struck a car with a pregnant woman, and tried to flee. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her near the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist (2024-11-27) reports a New York City Housing Authority employee crashed into three vehicles near Gates Avenue and Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Brooklyn. Police say the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," dragged a person trying to get her information, and hit another car with a pregnant woman inside. She then struck a third, unoccupied vehicle before being arrested by city sheriffs nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights ongoing risks at busy intersections and underscores the consequences of fleeing after a crash.


Taxi Turns Left, Strikes Pedestrian in Brooklyn

Taxi failed to yield. Struck a 21-year-old man crossing with the signal. Impact hit his knee, leg, foot. He fell, shocked, hurt. Brooklyn street, night. System failed to protect him.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling northeast on Stuyvesant Avenue in Brooklyn made a left turn and struck a 21-year-old male pedestrian at the intersection with Decatur Street at 19:50. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor by the taxi driver. The pedestrian suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was reported in shock. No contributing factors were attributed to the pedestrian. The impact was at the center front end of the taxi, which sustained no damage.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773990 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Speed and Distraction Injure Driver on Decatur

Two sedans slammed together on Decatur Street. A young woman at the wheel took a hard hit to her shoulder. Police blamed unsafe speed and driver distraction. The street bore the scars. One driver paid the price.

Two sedans collided on Decatur Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, unsafe speed and driver inattention or distraction caused the crash. A 20-year-old female driver with a permit suffered a serious shoulder injury. She was conscious and wore a lap belt. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists unsafe speed and distraction as the key driver errors. The crash left both vehicles damaged and one driver hurt. Systemic danger and driver mistakes shaped the outcome on this Brooklyn street.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773994 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Sedan Strikes Pedestrian Crossing With Signal

A 28-year-old woman was struck at a Brooklyn intersection while crossing with the signal. The sedan, making a left turn, hit her with its right front bumper. Limited visibility contributed to the crash. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Stuyvesant Ave and Fulton St in Brooklyn at 6:28 PM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2022 Toyota sedan, traveling southeast and making a left turn, struck her with the right front bumper. The report notes the driver's error as a failure to yield during the left turn, compounded by 'View Obstructed/Limited,' which impaired the driver's ability to see the pedestrian. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at 3. The sedan showed no vehicle damage. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the pedestrian's actions or equipment.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775251 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Sedan Hits Pedestrian Crossing Van Buren

A 49-year-old man was struck while crossing Van Buren Street outside a crosswalk. The sedan driver was making a left turn and failed to pay attention. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Van Buren Street was making a left turn when it struck a 49-year-old male pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot and remained conscious after the collision. The report cites driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, alongside pedestrian confusion or error. The vehicle showed no damage, indicating a low-speed impact. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk, but the report emphasizes the driver's failure to maintain attention during the maneuver. This crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction and the risks posed to pedestrians crossing mid-block.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773355 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
2
Two-Vehicle Rear-End Collision Injures Brooklyn Drivers

A rear-end crash on Hancock Street in Brooklyn left two men with neck injuries and whiplash. Both drivers were traveling west when the sedan struck the SUV’s rear. Both occupants suffered shock and moderate neck trauma, restrained by lap belts.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:44 on Hancock Street in Brooklyn. Two vehicles, a 2021 sedan and a 2023 SUV, were both traveling westbound. The sedan impacted the center back end of the SUV, causing damage to both vehicles. The sedan driver and the SUV front passenger both sustained neck injuries described as whiplash and were reported to be in shock. Both occupants were wearing lap belts and were not ejected. The report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both injured occupants, with no explicit driver errors cited. The collision’s point of impact and damage patterns indicate a rear-end collision scenario, highlighting the dangers of close vehicle following and impact forces on vehicle occupants.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773461 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04
Scooter Driver Ejected in Brooklyn Crash

A scooter driver was violently ejected and suffered severe leg injuries in a Brooklyn collision. The vehicle was demolished on impact. Police cite failure to yield right-of-way as the critical driver error behind the crash.

According to the police report, a 35-year-old male scooter driver was injured and ejected during a crash on Broadway near Arion Place in Brooklyn at 9:20 AM. The scooter, traveling north and going straight ahead, was demolished upon impact. The driver sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, indicating a driver error that led to the collision. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The crash involved a scooter and another vehicle, a Honda SUV, traveling east. The focus remains on the driver's failure to yield, which caused the violent ejection and serious injuries.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772725 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04