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

May 11 - A sedan hit a cyclist on Wyckoff Avenue. The rider suffered leg injuries. Police cite improper lane usage. The street saw blood, not mercy.

A sedan and a bike collided at 91 Wyckoff Avenue in Brooklyn. The cyclist, a 36-year-old man, was injured in the leg and remained conscious. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' The report lists no injuries for the car occupant. The data shows both vehicles were moving straight ahead before impact. The cyclist was not ejected. No other contributing factors were listed. The system failed to protect the vulnerable. The street remains dangerous.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812428 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 8 - A sedan hit a 26-year-old man walking along Bushwick Ave. The driver failed to yield and was distracted. The pedestrian suffered an abdominal abrasion but stayed conscious.

A sedan making a right turn on Bushwick Ave struck a 26-year-old male pedestrian walking with traffic. According to the police report, the driver was inattentive and failed to yield the right-of-way. The pedestrian was injured in the abdomen and pelvis, suffering an abrasion but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. No vehicle damage was reported. The pedestrian was not using any safety equipment, but the primary causes were driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811369 - 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 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 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 4 - A motorcycle and sedan collided on Flushing Ave. One driver was ejected and injured. Police cite improper lane use and unsafe speed. Passengers shaken. Metal twisted. System failed.

A motorcycle and a sedan crashed at Flushing Ave and Noll St in Brooklyn. The motorcycle driver was ejected and suffered a leg injury. Several passengers in the sedan were also hurt. According to the police report, 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Unsafe Speed' were listed as contributing factors. The report notes the motorcycle driver wore a helmet. No pedestrians were involved. The crash left metal bent and lives disrupted. Systemic danger remains on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810127 - 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 3 - A sedan hit a man working in the road at Knickerbocker and Jefferson. He took a blow to the shoulder. Police cite driver inexperience and failure to yield. The street stayed loud. The bruise will last.

A 30-year-old man was injured when a sedan struck him as he worked in the roadway at Knickerbocker Avenue and Jefferson Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a shoulder contusion and remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The sedan hit the man with its center front end while traveling north. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the danger faced by people on foot when drivers fail to yield and lack experience.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810726 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 3 - A moped slammed into a pickup on Knickerbocker Ave. Two teens hurt. Police cite driver inexperience and ignored signals. Metal, flesh, blood on the street. System failed the young.

A moped carrying two boys, ages 11 and 16, crashed into a pickup truck on Knickerbocker Ave near Stanhope St in Brooklyn. The 11-year-old suffered severe leg lacerations. The 16-year-old driver was bruised. According to the police report, 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' contributed to the crash. The moped driver was unlicensed. The pickup driver, age 66, was not reported injured. The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Driver Inexperience' as factors. The system put young riders at risk. No mention of helmet use as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810999 - 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

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

Apr 30 - A stolen Porsche sped through Brooklyn. Police set a roadblock. The car veered toward officers. One fired. The driver, struck, crashed again and died at the hospital. The chase ended in Starrett City. No officers or passengers were reported hurt.

Gothamist reported on April 30, 2025, that NYPD officers shot and killed a man driving a stolen Porsche after a chase on the Belt Parkway. Police said the driver, spotted near Brighton Beach, "maneuvered onto the service road in [the] direction of several officers who set up a roadblock to stop this vehicle." When the driver "veered toward one of the officers and nearly hit him," an officer fired, striking the driver. The car continued another mile before crashing again. The driver died at Brookdale Hospital. The incident was captured on police body cameras. Officers were treated at local hospitals but not injured. The article notes this was the fourth fatal police shooting by NYPD in 2025. The event highlights risks of high-speed chases and the dangers posed by fleeing vehicles near roadblocks.

• Police Shoot Driver After Parkway Chase, Gothamist, Published 2025-04-30

Apr 25 - A Yamaha motorcycle hit Breanna Henderson as she crossed Woodhaven Boulevard before dawn. She died at Jamaica Hospital. The rider stayed. The street stayed open. The city stayed dangerous.

NY Daily News reported on April 25, 2025, that Breanna Henderson, 23, was killed crossing Myrtle Avenue at Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens around 2:20 a.m. A 34-year-old man riding a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle northbound in the center lane struck her. Police said, "The motorcyclist remained at the scene." Henderson was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing. The crash highlights the persistent risk for pedestrians on wide, high-speed corridors like Woodhaven Boulevard. No information was provided about charges or contributing factors, but the fatal impact underscores the dangers faced by people crossing major city streets.

• Motorcycle Kills Pedestrian On Woodhaven Blvd, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-25

Apr 24 - A sedan hit a 32-year-old man crossing Wyckoff Avenue. He suffered facial fractures. Police cite driver inattention and unsafe speed. The crash left the pedestrian semiconscious at the intersection.

A sedan traveling south on Wyckoff Avenue struck a 32-year-old male pedestrian at the intersection with Himrod Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian was left semiconscious with facial fractures and dislocation injuries. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was crossing at the intersection when the crash occurred. The vehicle showed no damage. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808908 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 24 - Council pushes Albany to force speed limiters on chronic speeders. The move targets reckless drivers. Streets stay deadly while the bill sits in committee. Pedestrians and cyclists wait for action.

Resolution 0854-2025, now laid over in the Committee on Public Safety, urges passage of S.7621/A.7979. The measure calls for 'requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits.' Council Member Lincoln Restler leads, joined by nine co-sponsors including Yusef Salaam and Shahana Hanif. The bill landed in committee on April 24, 2025, with no vote yet. If passed at the state level, it would force repeat speeders to install devices that block speeding. The Council’s action highlights the ongoing risk to vulnerable road users as reckless drivers remain unchecked.

• File Res 0854-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-24

Apr 24 - 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

Apr 23 - Taibel Brod crossed with the light. The SUV turned left, struck her. She fell. Two weeks later, she died. The driver had no license. Police charged him. The street stayed open. The city moved on.

NY Daily News reported on April 23, 2025, that Taibel Brod, 101, was killed after an SUV hit her while she crossed Montgomery St. in Crown Heights with the walk signal. The driver, Menachem Shagalow, turned left without a license and struck Brod. Police charged him with aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to exercise due care. The article quotes Brod’s son, who called the crash a "tragedy." Brod died from her injuries nearly two weeks later. The case highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians, especially from unlicensed drivers and left turns at intersections. No changes to the street were reported.

• Unlicensed SUV Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-23

Apr 20 - SUV struck on Myrtle Avenue. Alcohol involved. One woman, age 60, injured with concussion. Police report lists alcohol as a factor. Streets remain dangerous for all.

A crash on Myrtle Avenue at Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn involved a station wagon/SUV. According to the police report, alcohol was a contributing factor. A 60-year-old woman driving the SUV suffered a concussion. Another 60-year-old woman, listed as an occupant, had unspecified injuries. Two others, both infants, were present but their injuries were unspecified. The police report highlights 'Alcohol Involvement' as a key factor in the crash. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807792 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 20 - A sedan hit a woman crossing with the signal at Dekalb and St Nicholas. Her leg fractured. Police cite failure to yield and driver distraction. The street stayed loud. The pain stayed sharp.

A 28-year-old woman crossing Dekalb Avenue at St Nicholas Avenue was struck by a sedan. She suffered a fractured leg. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield the right-of-way and was inattentive or distracted. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the intersection. No injuries were reported for vehicle occupants. The crash highlights driver errors—failure to yield and distraction—as key factors in the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808161 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 16 - New research from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets announced a report detailing NYC's top 10 super speeders.

• Road report: Here’s where lead-foot drivers repeatedly get speed-camera tickets in NYC, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-04-16