Bushwick’s Blood Price: How Many More Must Die Before We Act?

A 12-year-old girl suffered full-body injuries and shock after a vehicle disregarded traffic control and failed to yield while making a right turn on Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when struck.

According to the police report, a 12-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Myrtle Avenue and Knickerbocker Avenue in Brooklyn at 8:30 a.m. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the crash occurred. The vehicle, traveling south and making a right turn, failed to yield the right-of-way and disregarded traffic control, contributing to the collision. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her entire body and was reported to be in shock, complaining of pain or nausea. The vehicle showed no damage, indicating the impact was significant enough to injure the pedestrian without damaging the vehicle. The report explicitly cites driver errors—traffic control disregarded and failure to yield—as the primary contributing factors. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695936 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Seven Brooklyn officials urge DOT to clear cars from corners. They want boulders, planters, and bike corrals—not just paint. Their call follows deadly crashes. They press the city to use state law and federal funds. DOT promises review. Advocates back the push.

On January 17, 2024, seven Brooklyn elected officials—including Council Member Shahana Hanif, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assembly Members Marcela Mitaynes, Jo Anne Simon, Robert Carroll, and State Senators Zellnor Myrie and Andrew Gounardes—issued a joint letter to the NYC Department of Transportation. They called for 'universal daylighting with hardened materials such as boulders, planters, and bike corrals' at intersections. The officials cited recent fatal crashes and urged the city to opt into a state law banning parking within 20 feet of corners. They want federal funds used for these changes. The group opposes DOT’s slow pace and reliance on paint, demanding physical barriers. Community board leaders and advocates support the move. DOT says it will review the letter and remains committed to evidence-based daylighting.

• Seven Brooklyn Electeds Join Growing Calls For Universal Daylighting, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-17

A 15-year-old unlicensed driver injured his arm in a collision with a parked sedan in Queens. The crash occurred early morning as the inexperienced driver, distracted and inexperienced, struck the parked vehicle’s rear bumper with his left front bumper.

According to the police report, the crash happened at 6:49 AM in Queens near 291 Saint Nicholas. The 15-year-old male driver, unlicensed and alone in his 2000 Buick sedan, was traveling north when he collided with a parked 2020 Toyota sedan. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the Buick against the left rear bumper of the parked Toyota. The report cites 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The young driver sustained an abrasion injury to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but was conscious and not ejected. Vehicle damage was limited to the left front bumper of the moving car and the left rear bumper of the parked vehicle. The crash underscores risks posed by unlicensed, inexperienced drivers operating vehicles unsafely.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4693359 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A crash involving multiple vehicles left one driver injured in Brooklyn. The driver suffered back pain and nausea after the impact. The scene was chaotic, with vehicles damaged and emergency responders on site.

On December 28, 2023, a multi-vehicle crash occurred on Jefferson Street in Brooklyn. One driver, a 34-year-old male, was injured, suffering from back pain and nausea. According to the police report, the contributing factor was 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' The driver was not ejected from the vehicle. No safety equipment was used. The vehicles involved included a pick-up truck making a left turn and several sedans parked or going straight. The impact caused significant damage to the vehicles, particularly on the right front bumper of the truck and the left side doors of one sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4691126 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A 24-year-old man was struck on De Kalb Avenue in Brooklyn while crossing with the signal. Two SUVs were involved. The pedestrian suffered neck injuries and minor bleeding. Driver inattention was cited as a contributing factor.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing De Kalb Avenue with the signal. Two SUVs traveling west were involved. One SUV was parked before the crash and was hit on its left rear bumper. The other SUV was going straight ahead and showed no damage. The pedestrian suffered neck injuries and minor bleeding and was in shock. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. No other contributing factors were specified. The pedestrian was not at fault and was crossing legally.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688148 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Conduit Avenue kills. Brooklyn and Queens borough presidents call it urgent. They want DOT to turn this deadly, crash-heavy road into a safe corridor. In less than two years, 1,321 crashes. Seventy pedestrians and 14 cyclists hurt. Five dead. DOT silent.

On December 14, 2023, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards pressed the Department of Transportation to overhaul Conduit Avenue. Their letter called for a transformation of the avenue, described as "one of the most dangerous and non-inclusive roadways in the entire city." The officials urged DOT to prioritize traffic safety, cycling and mass transit infrastructure, pedestrian walkability, and green space. Between January 2022 and December 2023, Conduit Avenue saw 1,321 crashes, injuring 880 people—including 70 pedestrians and 14 cyclists—and killing five. Three intersections are listed as DOT pedestrian safety priorities, but the corridor itself is not. Richards and Reynoso have formed a task force and are pushing for action. DOT has not commented.

• Boob Tube: Brooklyn, Queens Leaders Want DOT to Fix Dangerous Conduit Ave., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-14

A moped driver made an improper left turn into a flatbed truck traveling south on Bushwick Avenue. The moped struck the truck’s right side doors. The 18-year-old moped driver was ejected and suffered bruises and arm injuries. No helmet was reported.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn when a moped driver, unlicensed and traveling west, made an improper left turn into the path of a southbound flatbed truck. The moped struck the truck’s right side doors, causing the rider to be ejected. The 18-year-old male moped driver sustained contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists "Turning Improperly" as a contributing factor. The flatbed truck was going straight ahead with no occupants. The moped driver was not wearing any safety equipment. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4687045 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Two sedans crashed head-on at De Kalb Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver and front passenger of one vehicle suffered head and shoulder injuries. Police cited driver inattention and improper lane usage as causes. Both occupants were restrained and not ejected.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on De Kalb Avenue in Brooklyn. The front passenger, a 35-year-old woman, sustained head injuries with minor bleeding. The 42-year-old male driver suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries with whiplash. Both occupants wore lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with improper passing or lane usage. The driver of the other vehicle had unspecified contributing factors. The impact occurred at the center front end of both vehicles. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead before the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4686780 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Two motor scooters traveling south collided head-on on Wilson Avenue. One scooter carried two men; the other had one. A 28-year-old female passenger was ejected and suffered facial contusions. Both drivers were distracted at the time of impact.

According to the police report, two motor scooters collided while traveling south on Wilson Avenue. The crash involved a scooter with two occupants and another with a single rider. A 28-year-old female passenger was ejected from the scooter and sustained facial contusions, classified as injury severity level 3. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both drivers. The impact occurred at the center front end of one scooter and the left front bumper of the other. No safety equipment was reported for the injured passenger. The collision resulted in significant vehicle damage and serious injury to the passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685725 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A moped struck the right side of a parked sedan on Hart Street in Brooklyn. The moped driver suffered a head injury and shock. The sedan showed no damage. Improper lane usage caused the crash. The moped driver was unhelmeted and injured.

According to the police report, a moped traveling north on Hart Street collided with the right side doors of a parked sedan. The moped driver, a 31-year-old man, sustained a head injury and was in shock. The sedan, occupied by two people, showed no damage and was stationary before impact. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as the contributing factor. The moped driver was not wearing a helmet. No other contributing factors were specified. The sedan driver was licensed and uninjured. The crash highlights the dangers of improper lane use around parked vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4684024 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Two vehicles crashed on Wilson Avenue in Brooklyn. The SUV struck the sedan’s front left quarter panel. The sedan’s driver, a 25-year-old man, suffered chest abrasions but was conscious and restrained. Driver inattention caused the collision.

According to the police report, a 2008 SUV traveling east on Wilson Avenue collided with a 2012 sedan traveling south. The point of impact was the SUV’s left front quarter panel and the sedan’s center front end. The sedan’s driver, a 25-year-old male occupant, was injured with chest abrasions but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed in New York. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash caused damage to the front ends of both vehicles. No ejections occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4683105 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Mayor Adams gutted the McGuinness Blvd. safety plan. Two lanes each way remain. Bike lanes go unprotected. Crossing distances stretch. Local leaders say nothing changed for people on foot. Cyclists dodge cars and illegal parking. The danger stays. The fight continues.

On November 29, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams’s administration scaled back the Department of Transportation’s original McGuinness Boulevard redesign. The DOT’s first plan would have cut traffic lanes and added a parking-protected bike lane. Adams ordered a weaker version after business pushback. The compromise left two car lanes in each direction during the day. Elected officials—U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and Council Member Lincoln Restler—sent a letter urging DOT to restore the full safety plan, writing, “Nothing has been done to improve conditions for pedestrians.” Advocates say the new design increases crossing distances and leaves cyclists and pedestrians exposed. DOT says work will continue into 2024. The boulevard remains dangerous for vulnerable road users.

• Eric Adams’s McGuinness Blvd. Capitulation Did ‘Nothing’ for Pedestrians, Greenpoint Pols Charge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-29

Two sedans crashed on Cypress Avenue. A 22-year-old female driver and a 4-year-old passenger suffered whiplash and injuries to the hip and entire body. The driver was distracted and disregarded traffic control. Both occupants were restrained and conscious.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Cypress Avenue. The 22-year-old female driver was injured in the hip and upper leg and suffered whiplash. A 4-year-old passenger in the same vehicle also suffered whiplash and injuries to the entire body. Both occupants were conscious and properly restrained, with the driver using a lap belt and harness and the child in a child restraint. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with disregarding traffic control. The collision involved impact to the left side doors of the female driver's vehicle and the center front end of the other sedan. No ejections occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4682202 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Two SUVs traveling east on Myrtle Avenue collided. The right front quarter panel of one struck the left front bumper of the other. A 32-year-old female passenger suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries. Both drivers were distracted at the time of impact.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided while traveling east on Myrtle Avenue. The point of impact was the right front quarter panel of one SUV and the left front bumper of the other. A 32-year-old female occupant in the right rear passenger seat was injured, sustaining shoulder and upper arm injuries and was in shock. She was wearing a lap belt and harness. Both drivers were cited for driver inattention and distraction, which contributed to the crash. No other contributing factors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4681303 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Council Member Alexa Avilés calls for a full redesign of the city’s truck route map. Trucks flood neighborhoods, endanger lives, and choke streets. Introduction 708 demands safer, smarter routes. The bill has strong support. The city’s map has not changed since the 1970s.

Introduction 708, sponsored by Council Member Alexa Avilés, seeks a sweeping overhaul of New York City’s outdated truck route map. The bill, now before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was highlighted in an op-ed published November 13, 2023. Avilés, as committee chair, wrote, 'An overhaul of our truck route map is long overdue. We must pass Introduction 708 for the sake of our communities and all New Yorkers.' The measure would require the Department of Transportation to redesign truck routes to improve safety, visibility, and reduce congestion and emissions. It also mandates input from neighborhoods, environmental groups, and industry. Avilés leads a coalition of 40 co-sponsors, with support from Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. The bill responds to the surge in freight traffic, which has battered streets and put vulnerable communities—often communities of color—at risk. The current map, unchanged since the 1970s, routes heavy trucks through residential areas, increasing danger for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Op-Ed | NYC’s truck routes haven’t changed since the 1970s. It’s time for an overhaul., amny.com, Published 2023-11-13

A sedan struck a 54-year-old bicyclist on Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn. The cyclist was partially ejected and suffered head abrasions. The driver was distracted. Both vehicles traveled east. The bicyclist was unhelmeted and injured but conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan and a bicycle collided on Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn. The bicyclist, a 54-year-old man, was partially ejected and sustained head abrasions. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the crash. The sedan, driven by a licensed female driver, and the unlicensed male bicyclist were both traveling straight ahead eastbound. The point of impact was the sedan's left front quarter panel and the bike's center front end. The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet. The cyclist was injured but conscious at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678096 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

City and Lyft will double e-bikes and cap prices, but leave most neighborhoods stranded. No new public money. Electrification pilot starts. Advocates slam lack of expansion. Riders outside core zones stay shut out. System grows in power, not reach.

On November 6, 2023, the Adams Administration and Lyft announced amendments to the Citi Bike contract, which runs through 2029. The deal, covered in Streetsblog NYC, doubles e-bikes from 10,000 to 20,000 and adds new and replacement classic bikes. The matter summary states, 'No system expansion... you're not going to be able to ride the bikes anywhere new because system expansion was not part of the amendment agreement.' Council members were not directly named, but Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso praised electrification, saying, 'This is exactly the direction we should be moving in—toward greener, safer, and more accessible micromobility options for New Yorkers.' John Tomac of Bike South Brooklyn condemned the lack of expansion: 'We're disappointed that you still can’t ride a Citi Bike in most of New York City.' The contract introduces price caps but avoids public funding. The city’s refusal to expand or subsidize Citi Bike leaves many vulnerable road users in transit deserts, with safer, greener options still out of reach.

• What We Get — And Don’t Get — In The New Citi Bike Deal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-06

A moped driver, unlicensed and helmeted, was ejected after a collision with a Jeep SUV on Bushwick Avenue. The SUV struck the moped’s left side while both vehicles traveled opposite directions. The rider suffered knee and lower leg injuries.

According to the police report, a moped traveling north on Bushwick Avenue collided with a southbound Jeep SUV. The SUV struck the moped’s left side doors, causing the moped driver to be ejected. The moped driver, a 23-year-old male, was injured with contusions and trauma to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor, indicating driver error. The moped driver was unlicensed but wore a helmet. The SUV sustained damage to its right front bumper, and the moped’s left front quarter panel was damaged. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676482 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A town hall to attack Vision Zero was scrapped after a tow truck driver killed a 7-year-old boy near Fort Greene Park. Borough President Reynoso and Council Member Hudson withdrew, saying the meeting would send the wrong message. The church canceled. Grief and anger filled the street.

On October 27, 2023, a planned anti-Vision Zero town hall was canceled in Brooklyn. The event, organized by Vision Zero opponents, was set to criticize the city's road safety program. But after a tow truck driver killed 7-year-old Kamei Hughes near Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Council Member Crystal Hudson withdrew. In their open letter, they wrote, 'Holding a forum where Vision Zero will be criticized in the neighborhood next to where a young boy’s life was lost to traffic violence sends the wrong message to the community and to our borough.' The church, led by Rev. Anthony Trufant, canceled the meeting. Local residents called for more enforcement against reckless drivers. The tragedy underscored the stakes: pedestrian deaths are down, but the toll of traffic violence remains high.

• Anti-Vision Zero Town Hall Postponed After Pols Bail Following Little Boy’s Death, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-27

A child died under the wheels of an NYPD tow truck. The mayor dodged questions. He said, “I love New York.” He left. Grieving parents and officials demanded action. The city’s promises rang hollow. Trust in leadership cracked. Streets stayed dangerous.

On October 27, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams faced questions after a 7-year-old was killed by an NYPD tow-truck driver. The event followed his administration’s interruption of several safe street projects. When pressed by a Streetsblog reporter—'Why should New Yorkers trust you to make the city’s streets safer?'—Adams replied, 'I love New York, I love New York,' and left without a substantive answer. The matter, as reported, centers on public frustration: 'Adams had previously promised to do "whatever it takes to keep our streets safe" after the child’s death.' Council Member Crystal Hudson and Borough President Antonio Reynoso called for urgent safety improvements. A Brooklyn parent’s letter demanding action drew 1,800 signatures in days. The mayor’s silence deepened distrust. The city’s vulnerable remain at risk.

• Asked About Street Safety After Child’s Death, Mayor Says, ‘I Love New York!’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-27