The Dead Don’t Wait—Why Should We?

Luis Cruz stepped from his car. An e-bike delivery worker flew through a stop sign. The crash was sudden. Cruz died on the street. The rider stayed. The intersection is known for danger. Delivery speed and city policy collide.

Gothamist reported on March 23, 2025, that Luis Cruz, 49, died after being struck by an e-bike delivery worker who "sped through a stop sign" at Franklin and India streets in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Witness Jack Collins said, "He died basically on the spot." The e-bike rider remained at the scene; no arrests were made as the investigation continued. The article notes that the intersection is a known trouble spot, with Collins stating, "It's not a unicorn incident. It's happened a lot." The report highlights systemic issues: delivery app pressures, lack of regulation, and a street design that encourages risky moves. City data shows e-bikes account for a small share of traffic deaths, but the policy debate continues.

• E-Bike Rider Runs Stop, Kills Man, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-23

A Kia sedan, driven by an unlicensed man, crashed into parked cars on Bushwick Ave. The driver was ejected and badly hurt. A passenger suffered neck injuries. Police found alcohol involved.

According to the police report, a Kia sedan heading north on Bushwick Ave in Brooklyn struck multiple parked vehicles at 3:15 AM. The unlicensed male driver was ejected and suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The front passenger, a 31-year-old woman, sustained neck injuries. The report cites alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. The driver’s unlicensed status and alcohol use were critical errors leading to the crash. No contributing factors related to the passenger were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802698 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 47-year-old man on a moped was struck head-on near Putnam Avenue. Thrown from his seat, his face torn open, he lay in shock on the pavement. The street echoed with silence and blood. No one else was harmed.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old man riding a moped northbound on Bushwick Avenue near Putnam Avenue was struck head-on and ejected from his vehicle. The report describes the rider as suffering severe lacerations to the face and lying in shock on the pavement. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash. The moped's point of impact was the center front end, and the vehicle sustained damage to the left front bumper. The report notes that the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is listed after the primary driver error. No other persons were harmed in the collision. The scene was marked by silence and blood, underscoring the violence of the impact and the vulnerability of those outside of cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800008 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A young man rode east in a Mercedes. The driver looked away. Metal struck. The passenger never left his seat. Death came fast, silent, final. Brooklyn’s streets claimed another life to inattention.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old man was riding as a rear passenger in a 2017 Mercedes sedan traveling east on Linden Street near Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn. The report states that the driver became inattentive or distracted, leading to a collision. The passenger, who remained in his seat and was wearing a lap belt, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The contributing factor listed in both the vehicle and person data is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' No other contributing factors were cited. The report does not mention any actions by the victim that contributed to the crash. This fatal incident underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799398 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 51-year-old man crossing Myrtle Avenue with the signal was struck by an eastbound SUV. The vehicle’s left front bumper hit the pedestrian, causing upper arm injuries and bruising. Driver inattention and improper lane usage contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, at 5 p.m. on Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn, a 51-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing with the signal at an intersection. The pedestrian suffered a contusion and upper arm injury after being struck by a Jeep SUV traveling eastbound. The point of impact was the vehicle’s left front bumper, which sustained damage. The report identifies driver inattention and distraction as primary contributing factors, along with improper passing or lane usage by the driver. The pedestrian’s actions were not cited as contributing factors. This collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving and lane violations in urban intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798742 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans traveling south on Bushwick Avenue collided in Brooklyn. The impact struck the right rear bumper of one vehicle and the left front bumper of the other. Two rear passengers suffered whole-body injuries and shock, reporting pain and nausea.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Bushwick Avenue near Halsey Street in Brooklyn at 8:15 p.m. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead southbound when the crash occurred. The point of impact was the center back end of one vehicle and the left front bumper of the other. The report identifies driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with driver inexperience for one driver. Two occupants, a 34-year-old female and a 35-year-old male, both rear passengers restrained by lap belts, sustained injuries to their entire bodies and experienced shock. Both complained of pain or nausea. Neither occupant was ejected. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors, focusing on driver errors as the cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798535 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 36-year-old man was struck by a speeding sedan at a Brooklyn intersection. The impact caused facial injuries and incoherence. The driver’s unsafe speed was a key factor. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal, suffering minor bleeding.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old male pedestrian was injured in Brooklyn at 9:39 AM when a 2015 Nissan sedan traveling north struck him at an intersection near 1803 Broadway. The report cites the driver’s unsafe speed as a contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal at the time of impact, but the primary cause noted is the driver’s failure to control speed. The pedestrian suffered facial injuries and was incoherent at the scene, with minor bleeding reported. The vehicle sustained no damage, indicating a significant impact on the pedestrian despite the lack of damage to the sedan. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798598 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A driver out on bail smashed into a Toyota in Bushwick. The crash killed Hayden Wallace and injured three others. The driver fled, leaving chaos behind. Police tracked him for over a year. Charges stack up, but the loss remains.

NY Daily News (March 8, 2025) reports that Christopher Seabrook, 28, was arrested after a deadly hit-and-run in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Seabrook had been out on bail for a previous crash involving police. On January 8, 2024, he crashed into a Toyota, killing Hayden Wallace and injuring three others. Seabrook fled the scene, abandoning his vehicle. The article notes, "All accidents are useless but this one was even more useless because [Seabrook] had so many other offenses." Seabrook faces 23 charges, including manslaughter, leaving the scene, unlicensed driving, and speeding. The case highlights repeated driver offenses and questions about bail and enforcement. Police needed over a year to arrest Seabrook, who had a history of fleeing crashes and driving without a license.

• Repeat Offender Kills Passenger In Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-08

A sedan turned right and struck a 61-year-old woman crossing Bushwick Ave with the signal. She suffered a fractured hip and leg. Police cite driver inattention. The car’s left front bumper took the hit.

According to the police report, a 61-year-old woman was crossing Bushwick Ave at Hancock St in Brooklyn with the signal when a 2023 Chevrolet sedan, making a right turn, struck her with its left front bumper. The pedestrian suffered a fractured, distorted, and dislocated hip and upper leg. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause. The sedan’s left front bumper was damaged. The driver was licensed and operating legally. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s actions were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798737 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A dump truck turned right on Withers Street. The driver hit a man crouched for food. The man died at Elmhurst Hospital. The driver fled. Police are still searching. Brooklyn’s streets remain deadly for those on foot.

Gothamist reported on March 3, 2025, that a dump truck driver fatally struck a man in his 20s on Withers Street near Woodpoint Road, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The man was kneeling in the street to pick up food when the truck, turning right, hit him. According to police, 'the driver, a 49-year-old man, left the scene.' The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. No arrests have been made. The article notes this was one of several fatal crashes in Brooklyn that week, highlighting persistent dangers for pedestrians. NYPD data shows at least 10 traffic deaths in Brooklyn so far this year, matching last year’s pace. The driver’s failure to remain at the scene underscores ongoing issues with hit-and-runs and enforcement.

• Dump Truck Kills Pedestrian in Williamsburg, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-03

A man sped through a stop sign in Brownsville. His Mercedes hit a school bus. His passenger died. He ran from the wreck in a taxi. Police found him later. The victim’s family mourns. The street remains unchanged.

NY Daily News reported on March 2, 2025, that Tyree Epps, 32, drove a Mercedes-Benz without a license, ran a stop sign on Van Sinderen Ave, and crashed into a school bus. The article states, “After the crash, Epps hopped in a taxi and took off, leaving his 26-year-old passenger, Imani Vance, in the front seat suffering severe head trauma.” Epps faces charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene, and unlicensed driving. The bus driver survived. The crash exposes ongoing risks from unlicensed, reckless drivers and the persistent danger at city intersections. The victim’s family is left to grieve and organize a funeral, while the intersection remains a site of loss.

• Unlicensed Driver Flees Fatal Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-02

A Kia slammed into a Toyota on Stockholm Street. Hayden Wallace, 29, died. Two friends survived with critical wounds. The driver fled. Police arrested Christopher Seabrook. The crash left a new life cut short, a city shaken.

According to the NY Daily News (published March 1, 2025), Christopher Seabrook, 28, was arrested for the hit-and-run crash that killed Hayden Wallace, 29, in Bushwick on January 8, 2024. Seabrook allegedly crashed a Kia Sportage into a Toyota Yaris carrying Wallace and friends, then fled the scene on foot. Wallace died; two others were critically injured. The Toyota’s driver was also charged with driving without a license. Seabrook faces charges including manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and leaving the scene. The article quotes Wallace’s aunt: “He lived life to the fullest. He was only 29 years old and lit up every room he entered.” The case highlights the deadly consequences of reckless driving and fleeing crash scenes in New York City.

• Bushwick Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-01

Council slashed parking mandates in transit-rich zones. Mandates linger in outer areas. Progress, but not full victory. Some districts carved out exceptions. Housing and parking no longer clash in core neighborhoods. Vulnerable road users still face cars in many places.

""A spokesperson for Council Member Sandy Nurse (D Brownsville) said her entire district is in the 'outer transit zone' because the Council's 'compromise [was] shaped by amendments from our district’s community boards.' 'It wasn't something that was pushed for specifically by Council Member Nurse,' spokesperson Patricia Santana told Streetsblog." -- Sandy Nurse

On February 26, 2025, the City Council approved Mayor Adams's 'City of Yes' rezoning. The bill divided the city into zones: the Manhattan core, an inner transit zone with no parking mandates, an outer transit zone with reduced mandates, and areas beyond where mandates mostly remain. The matter summary states, 'The final plan did not eliminate parking mandates citywide but divided the city into zones.' Council Member Crystal Hudson pushed to eliminate mandates in all her districts. Council Member Shahana Hanif opposed carve-outs. Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez called parking mandates 'a concession to cars that we don’t need and can’t afford.' Council Member Sandy Nurse’s district saw mandates shaped by community board amendments, not her advocacy. Dan Garodnick, Department of City Planning chair, said, 'parking and housing are no longer coming into conflict in the parts of New York City that are well-served by transit.' The bill passed after compromises, leaving mandates in some areas and progress in others. No direct safety impact assessment was provided.

• ‘City of … Sort Of’: How Do The ‘Outer Transit Zone’ Parking Mandate Reductions Work?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-26

A sedan driver in Brooklyn rear-ended another vehicle on Irving Avenue. The collision caused injuries to the trailing driver’s arm and hand. Police cited driver inattention and following too closely as primary factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Irving Avenue in Brooklyn at 18:33. Two sedans were involved, both traveling west. The trailing vehicle struck the lead vehicle with its left front bumper, impacting the right side doors of the lead sedan. The driver of the trailing sedan, a 45-year-old woman, was injured with abrasions to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Following Too Closely" as contributing factors, highlighting driver error as the cause. No victim fault or pedestrian involvement was noted. Both vehicles were initially parked before the crash, indicating the collision happened as they began moving. The police report does not mention any victim behaviors contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793744 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW X5 veered off Belt Parkway near Exit 14. The SUV struck a tree. Marcus Joseph, 41, died at the scene. No passengers. No bystanders hurt. The crash left only silence and wreckage on the Brooklyn road.

NY Daily News (2025-02-18) reports Marcus Joseph, 41, died after his BMW X5 spun out of control on the Belt Parkway near Exit 14 in Starrett City, Brooklyn. Police said the SUV 'skidded off the road and slammed into a tree.' Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The article does not mention weather or road conditions. The incident highlights the dangers of high-speed corridors like the Belt Parkway, where loss of control can prove fatal. No charges were filed. The report underscores the persistent risks for all road users on New York City highways.

• BMW Skids, Slams Tree On Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-18

Senators move to guard bike lanes. Cameras will catch drivers who block or invade. The city’s cyclists and walkers get a shot at safer streets. No more hiding behind the wheel.

Senate bill S 5008, now in sponsorship, aims to launch a bicycle lane safety program in New York City. The bill, introduced February 18, 2025, sits in committee. Its summary reads: 'Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and/or protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal leads, joined by Jabari Brisport, Kristen Gonzalez, Liz Krueger, Jessica Ramos, and Julia Salazar. The bill targets drivers who block or misuse bike lanes, using cameras to enforce the rules. The move puts pressure on the city to protect cyclists and pedestrians from daily danger.

• File S 5008, Open States, Published 2025-02-18

A sedan and pickup crashed head-on on Bushwick Ave. Slippery pavement and bad lane use led to impact. Both sedan occupants suffered arm injuries and shock. Airbags deployed. No blame for those hurt.

According to the police report, a sedan and a pickup truck collided head-on at 19:57 on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn. The report lists 'Pavement Slippery' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The sedan's driver, a 34-year-old man, and his 27-year-old front passenger both suffered elbow and lower arm injuries, shock, and pain or nausea. Airbags deployed for both. The sedan was going straight; the pickup was in an unspecified maneuver. The crash struck both vehicles at the center front. The report highlights driver errors tied to lane use on slick pavement. No factors are attributed to the victims.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793311 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

A 26-year-old woman crossing with the signal on Bushwick Avenue was struck by a southbound vehicle. The driver’s inattention and inexperience caused the crash. The pedestrian suffered upper arm injuries but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing at an intersection on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn at 5:55 p.m. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when she was struck by a southbound vehicle traveling straight ahead. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained an upper arm injury and was conscious after the collision. The driver’s failure to maintain attention and lack of experience directly contributed to the crash, highlighting systemic dangers posed by distracted driving. No other vehicle details or victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792823 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 51-year-old woman crossing Woodbine Street in Brooklyn was struck by an SUV backing east. The driver’s inattention and unsafe backing caused knee and lower leg injuries. The pedestrian was conscious and suffered bruising from the impact.

According to the police report, a 51-year-old female pedestrian was injured at 6:58 AM on Woodbine Street in Brooklyn when a 2016 Toyota SUV backing east struck her. The pedestrian was crossing outside of a signal or crosswalk, but the report explicitly cites the driver’s errors as the cause. The contributing factors listed are "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Backing Unsafely." The impact occurred at the center back end of the vehicle. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot, and remained conscious after the collision. The vehicle showed no damage. The report does not attribute any fault or contributing behavior to the pedestrian. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle alone at the time.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790757 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04