No Deaths, No Mercy: Cypress Hills Bleeds While Leaders Stall

A BMW’s bumper slammed into a man standing off Essex Street. Blood spilled. His arm split open, but he stayed awake. The driver, distracted, kept the night silent. Metal met flesh. The city’s danger pressed on.

According to the police report, at 1:15 a.m. near 151 Essex Street in Brooklyn, a BMW sedan traveling east struck a 44-year-old man who was standing off the roadway. The report states the man suffered severe lacerations to his arm but remained conscious. The collision was marked by the BMW’s right front bumper bearing the impact. The police report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The pedestrian was not in the roadway at the time of the crash, according to the report. No contributing factors were attributed to the pedestrian. The incident underscores the persistent threat posed by driver distraction, with the victim injured while not even occupying the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789489 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cargo van struck Mayya Gil, 95, and her aide in Brooklyn. Gil died. The driver turned left, hit them in the crosswalk. No charges filed. Gil survived war and disaster, but not New York traffic. Another senior lost to city streets.

Gothamist (2025-01-26) reports that Mayya Gil, 95, was killed while crossing Cropsey Avenue in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. A man driving a cargo van made a left turn and struck Gil and her home health aide. The aide survived; Gil did not. Police made no arrests or charges. The article notes, 'She was a very active lady.' Gil was the second elderly pedestrian killed in Brooklyn that month. Transportation Alternatives highlighted that 46 senior pedestrians died in city crashes last year. The crash underscores the ongoing risk to older New Yorkers at crosswalks and the lack of driver accountability in such incidents.

• Elderly Woman Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-01-26

Two sedans collided on Fulton Street in Brooklyn, injuring a 61-year-old female driver. The impact damaged front and rear bumpers. The injured driver suffered contusions and leg injuries but was conscious and not ejected from her vehicle.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:12 on Fulton Street in Brooklyn involving two sedans traveling north and east. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the northbound sedan and the left rear quarter panel of the eastbound sedan. The injured party was a 61-year-old female driver of one sedan, who sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. She remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. Both vehicles sustained damage to their bumpers. The report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, with no direct driver errors or victim behaviors noted. The collision highlights the dangers of vehicle interactions at intersections, even without clear fault assigned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786891 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A northbound SUV struck the left rear quarter of a westbound sedan on Bushwick Avenue. The impact injured a 91-year-old female passenger in the sedan, causing head trauma and whiplash. Both drivers were female; the SUV driver held a permit license.

According to the police report, at 10:51 AM on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn, a 2016 Toyota SUV traveling north struck the left rear quarter panel of a 2011 Nissan sedan traveling west. The point of impact was the SUV's right front bumper against the sedan's left rear quarter panel. The collision injured a 91-year-old female occupant seated in the right rear of the sedan, who sustained head injuries and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The SUV driver, a female with a permit license, was going straight ahead at the time of the crash. The sedan driver was a licensed female also traveling straight. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not attribute fault to the injured passenger. The SUV's failure to avoid rear-ending the sedan reveals a critical driver error, underscoring systemic dangers posed by drivers operating with permit licenses.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786889 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate bill S 1675 would force carmakers to face the facts. Every vehicle gets a pedestrian safety score. The public sees it. No more hiding danger behind steel and glass.

Senate bill S 1675, now at the sponsorship stage, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed January 13, 2025, it aims to 'create a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles which shall be posted on the department of motor vehicles' website.' Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Leroy Comrie, Michael Gianaris, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, Zellnor Myrie, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Luis R. Sepúlveda, and Toby Ann Stavisky. The bill demands transparency. It would show the public which cars endanger walkers and which spare them. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the intent is clear: expose the risk, protect the vulnerable.

• File S 1675, Open States, Published 2025-01-13

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.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

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.

• Audi Driver Drags Man Half Mile, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-01

A sedan struck the left rear quarter panel of a southbound garbage truck on Arlington Avenue in Brooklyn. The sedan driver, a 35-year-old man, suffered back injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead at impact.

According to the police report, at 10:21 AM on Arlington Avenue in Brooklyn, a 2010 Honda sedan traveling west struck the left rear quarter panel of a southbound 2018 Mack garbage truck. The sedan's point of impact and vehicle damage was the center front end, while the truck sustained damage to its left rear quarter panel. The sedan driver, a 35-year-old male occupant, was injured with back pain and whiplash, classified as injury severity level 3. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead prior to the collision. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the sedan driver but does not indicate any pedestrian involvement or victim fault. The collision highlights risks involving rear impacts between passenger vehicles and large trucks on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781725 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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.

• Cars Crushed Between Bus And Truck, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-18

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.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

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.

• Driver Drags Person, Hits Pregnant Woman, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

Two sedans collided on Chestnut Street at Ridgewood Avenue. A seven-year-old girl in the back seat suffered facial injuries and shock. Police cited failure to yield and unsafe speed as causes.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed at 12:41 a.m. on Chestnut Street near Ridgewood Avenue in Brooklyn. One sedan was going east, the other turned right northbound. The eastbound car struck the left side doors of the turning sedan. Police listed failure to yield right-of-way and unsafe speed as contributing factors. A seven-year-old girl riding in the middle rear seat of the northbound sedan was injured, suffering facial wounds and minor bleeding. She was restrained by a lap belt and harness and experienced shock. Driver errors—failure to yield and unsafe speed—directly led to the crash and the child’s injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773716 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 47-year-old e-bike rider suffered severe leg injuries after a collision with a sedan on Jamaica Avenue in Brooklyn. Both vehicles were initially parked before impact. The rider sustained fractures and dislocations, remaining conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Jamaica Avenue in Brooklyn at 10:13 AM. The collision involved a 2016 Toyota sedan and an e-bike, both described as parked before the crash. The e-bike driver, a 47-year-old male, was injured with fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not attribute fault to the e-bike rider. The sedan sustained damage to its center front end, indicating the point of impact. The e-bike rider was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report does not cite any driver errors explicitly, but the circumstances suggest a hazardous interaction between the two vehicles while stationary or beginning movement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771048 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

A motorcycle driver was ejected and injured after a sedan rear-ended him on Jackie Robinson Parkway. The crash caused abrasions and arm injuries. Police cited the sedan driver’s failure to maintain safe distance as the key factor in the collision.

According to the police report, at 9:20 AM on Jackie Robinson Parkway, a sedan traveling east struck the left rear quarter panel of a motorcycle also heading east. The motorcycle driver, a 36-year-old male, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor attributed to the sedan driver. Both drivers were licensed, with the sedan driver from Pennsylvania and the motorcyclist from New York. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time. The collision’s impact and resulting injuries highlight the dangers of tailgating on high-speed parkways. No victim fault was indicated in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770209 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 62-year-old man driving a sedan in Brooklyn suffered a neck injury and whiplash. The crash occurred on Arlington Avenue at midday. The driver remained conscious and was not ejected. Police reports list no contributing driver errors or victim factors.

According to the police report, a crash occurred at 12:32 on Arlington Avenue in Brooklyn involving a 2021 Toyota sedan traveling east. The 62-year-old male driver, who was licensed in New York, sustained a neck injury classified as severity level 3 and complained of whiplash. He was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or reckless behavior. No victim behaviors or external factors were noted as contributing to the crash. The vehicle sustained damage to the center front end, indicating a frontal impact. The absence of cited driver errors or victim factors highlights a crash with unclear causation but resulted in significant injury to the driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770202 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A woman, 34, crossing Fulton Street with the signal was struck and left unconscious. She suffered severe injuries and burns. No driver errors listed. The intersection remains dangerous for those on foot.

According to the police report, a 34-year-old female pedestrian was crossing Fulton Street at Warwick Street in Brooklyn with the pedestrian signal when she was struck at 4:20 AM. She suffered severe injuries to her entire body, was rendered unconscious, and sustained minor burns. The report lists no contributing factors or errors by the driver. The vehicle involved is unspecified. The absence of identified driver fault in the report highlights the persistent systemic dangers faced by pedestrians, even when crossing legally with the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766904 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A dump truck rear-ended a van on Bushwick Avenue. The van driver, 81, suffered neck injuries. Both vehicles damaged. No pedestrians involved. Impact shows danger of heavy trucks in city streets.

According to the police report, a dump truck traveling south on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn struck the rear of a van moving in the same direction. The van's 81-year-old male driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The point of impact was the dump truck's center front and the van's right rear bumper. Both drivers were licensed and alone in their vehicles. The report lists no specific contributing factors, but the crash shows a rear-end collision by the dump truck. No pedestrians were involved. The van driver wore a lap belt and harness. No ejections occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763065 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill orders DOT to build 35 e-bike battery stations yearly. A quarter will sit curbside, letting riders lock up. Sponsors: Rivera, Nurse, Hanif. Streets may shift. City must post locations.

Int 1084-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced October 10, 2024. The bill reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to install e-bicycle battery stations.' Council Members Carlina Rivera (primary sponsor), Sandy Nurse, and Shahana K. Hanif back the measure. It mandates DOT to install at least 35 e-bike battery stations each year for five years, with at least 25% curbside for secure parking. DOT must report on station rollout and post locations online. The bill aims to reshape curb space and infrastructure for e-bike riders, but offers no direct safety analysis for vulnerable road users.

• File Int 1084-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-10-10

A garbage truck making a right turn struck a sedan traveling straight east on Jamaica Avenue in Brooklyn. Both drivers suffered whiplash and chest injuries. The truck driver’s inattention caused the collision, leaving two injured and vehicles damaged.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Jamaica Avenue in Brooklyn at 1:56 a.m. A garbage truck was making a right turn when it collided with a sedan traveling straight ahead eastbound. The point of impact was the truck’s right front quarter panel and the sedan’s center front end. The truck driver, a 47-year-old woman, and the sedan driver, a 32-year-old woman passenger, both sustained injuries including whiplash and chest trauma. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. Both drivers were conscious and not ejected from their vehicles. The collision caused damage to the right front bumper of the truck and the front end of the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759488 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04