Six Dead, Hundreds Broken—But the Street Never Changes

Jun 2 - A high-speed crash in Brooklyn injured an 18-year-old female passenger. The collision involved multiple parked vehicles and a moving sedan. The passenger suffered a head contusion but was conscious and not ejected. Unsafe speed was cited as a key factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred near 1010 Elton Street in Brooklyn at 11:50 p.m. The collision involved a moving sedan traveling south that impacted multiple parked vehicles, including a station wagon/SUV and other sedans. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor leading to the crash. An 18-year-old female passenger seated in the middle front seat or lying across a seat in one of the vehicles sustained a head contusion and was injured but remained conscious and was not ejected. Vehicle damage was noted on the left and right front bumpers of the involved cars. The report does not indicate any contributing factors related to the passenger's behavior. The crash highlights the dangers posed by excessive speed in urban streets crowded with parked vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729682 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 1 - Two sedans slammed head-on on Linden Boulevard. A 64-year-old woman behind the wheel took the hit. Neck pain. Whiplash. Metal twisted. No one thrown. Straight roads, sudden violence.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling in opposite directions on Linden Boulevard collided head-on. The southbound driver, a 64-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries and whiplash but remained conscious. Both vehicles were going straight before the crash. The report lists 'unspecified' as the contributing factor for the injured driver, with no explicit driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No victim actions contributed. Both cars took heavy front-end damage, underscoring the danger of head-on impacts on Brooklyn streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729372 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 26 - A sedan merging southbound collided with a parked SUV’s left rear quarter panel on Ashford Street. Two sedan occupants suffered head injuries and shock. The impact caused left front quarter damage to the sedan and left rear damage to the SUV.

According to the police report, at 15:38 in Brooklyn near 721 Ashford Street, a 2013 Nissan sedan traveling southbound was merging when it struck a parked 2007 Chevrolet SUV. The point of impact was the sedan’s left front bumper and the SUV’s left rear quarter panel. The sedan carried two occupants, a 19-year-old female driver and a 21-year-old female front passenger, both injured with head trauma and shock, reporting pain or nausea. Both wore lap belts and harnesses. The SUV was unoccupied and stationary before the collision. The report lists the sedan’s pre-crash action as merging, indicating driver error in merging maneuvers. No contributing factors were specified for the victims. The collision caused visible damage to the left front quarter of the sedan and the left rear quarter of the SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728247 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 26 - A 61-year-old driver hit two parked sedans on New Lots Avenue. He suffered back injuries and shock. Police cite distraction and improper lane use. No pedestrians or cyclists were hurt.

According to the police report, a 61-year-old man driving east on New Lots Avenue in Brooklyn crashed into two parked sedans at 8:50 AM. The driver was injured, reporting back pain, shock, and nausea. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The impact struck the left front bumper of the parked cars, damaging both vehicles. No pedestrians, cyclists, or passengers were involved. The report notes the driver wore a lap belt. This crash shows the harm caused by driver distraction and improper lane use on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728241 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 25 - A 48-year-old man suffered a head injury and shock after being struck while crossing with the signal on Hegeman Avenue in Brooklyn. The sedan driver made a right turn; no vehicle damage was reported. Confusion contributed to the pedestrian’s injury.

According to the police report, a 48-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Hegeman Avenue and Ashford Street in Brooklyn at 7:31 p.m. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The involved vehicle, a 2013 Honda sedan, was making a right turn traveling northeast. The report notes no damage to the vehicle and no ejection of the pedestrian. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and was in shock, complaining of pain or nausea. The police report cites "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" as a contributing factor. There is no mention of driver errors such as failure to yield, but the pedestrian’s confusion is explicitly noted. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The focus remains on the pedestrian’s confusion as a factor in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729268 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 25 - A 67-year-old woman driver suffered head injuries and whiplash when an SUV making a left turn struck her sedan from behind. The crash occurred on Avenue D. Police cite improper lane usage as the contributing factor behind the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:25 on Avenue D involving three vehicles traveling east. A 67-year-old female driver in a 2012 Nissan SUV was making a left turn when she rear-ended a 2023 Toyota sedan. The sedan's driver, a 67-year-old woman, sustained head injuries and whiplash but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The police report identifies 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain proper lane discipline during the maneuver. The sedan showed center front-end damage, and the SUV had center back-end damage. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727353 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 24 - A 43-year-old woman suffered knee and lower leg injuries after an SUV made a left turn and struck her at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal. The driver caused the collision by turning into her path, leaving her in shock.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Wortman Avenue at an intersection with the pedestrian signal. The collision occurred at 7:27 PM when a 2016 Kia SUV, driven by a licensed female driver traveling southwest, was making a left turn. The vehicle struck the pedestrian with its center front end. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot and was reported to be in shock. The report notes the pedestrian was crossing with the signal, indicating no fault on her part. The driver’s action of making a left turn into the pedestrian’s path was the critical factor in the crash. Vehicle damage was not reported, but the impact caused significant injury to the pedestrian. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727364 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 24 - Unlicensed SUV driver hit a 36-year-old man on Van Siclen Avenue. The pedestrian suffered leg and foot injuries. The crash left him in shock. Center front of the SUV took the impact. Midnight street. No escape.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old male pedestrian was struck by a 2013 SUV driven by an unlicensed man on Van Siclen Avenue in Brooklyn at 12:45 a.m. The SUV was traveling east, going straight, when it hit the pedestrian with its center front end. The pedestrian suffered contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, leaving him in shock with a severity level 3 injury. The report notes the driver's unlicensed status as a critical factor. No specific driver errors or contributing factors are listed. The vehicle sustained damage to its center front, showing a direct hit to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731536 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 21 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-05-21

May 16 - Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

May 16 - Council bill targets repeat pedal-assist bike violators. Three strikes trigger a mandatory safety course. Ignore the course, lose your bike. DOT will track results. Three-year pilot. Enforcement, not education, leads.

Int 0874-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced May 16, 2024, by Council Members Ariola (primary), Hanks, Hudson, Louis, Mealy, and Banks, the bill orders DOT to launch a pilot abatement program for unsafe pedal-assist bicycle operators. The bill summary states: 'Pedal-assist bicycle operators who accrue 3 or more moving violations under city law would be required to take a safe pedal-assist bicycle operation course offered by DOT.' Noncompliance means bike impoundment. DOT must report on course completions, impounds, and program effectiveness. The pilot sunsets after three years. The bill aims to curb reckless riding through strict enforcement.

• File Int 0874-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

May 12 - Two SUVs collided head-on on Milford Street at 1:10 a.m. A one-year-old occupant driving one vehicle suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited driver inattention and unsafe speed as contributing factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Milford Street at 1:10 a.m. involving two SUVs traveling straight ahead from different directions. The impact was at the right front bumper of both vehicles. A one-year-old occupant, who was the driver of one SUV, sustained injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot, with a contusion and bruising reported. The injured occupant was conscious and not ejected, with an airbag deployed in the vehicle. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors to the collision. No other victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The crash highlights critical driver errors leading to serious injury of a vulnerable occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723984 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 6 - A 20-year-old woman suffered knee and leg injuries while boarding a vehicle on Linden Boulevard. She was conscious, bruised, and left exposed to danger outside the crosswalk. No driver errors reported.

According to the police report, a 20-year-old female pedestrian was injured while getting on or off a vehicle other than a school bus at 1965 Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn. She was not at an intersection. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with contusions and bruises. Her injury severity was rated as moderate, and she remained conscious. The report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors. The vehicle type is unspecified, and no pre-crash actions or license details are recorded. No helmet or signal use is mentioned. The report documents the harm faced by pedestrians interacting with vehicles, even when no explicit driver fault is cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722415 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 3 - A 16-year-old boy crossing with the signal suffered knee and lower leg injuries when a 2024 Jeep SUV made a left turn and hit him. The impact occurred on Stanley Avenue in Brooklyn at 8 p.m., leaving the pedestrian bruised but conscious.

According to the police report, a 16-year-old male pedestrian was injured after being struck by a 2024 Jeep SUV traveling west on Stanley Avenue in Brooklyn. The SUV was making a left turn when the collision occurred, impacting the pedestrian with the vehicle's left front bumper. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the time of the crash. Injuries included contusions and bruises to the knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity level of 3. The pedestrian remained conscious following the impact. The report does not list specific contributing factors for the driver, but the collision happened during the vehicle's left turn maneuver, indicating a failure to yield or inadequate driver attention to crossing pedestrians. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722035 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 29 - A 29-year-old man was struck by a southbound SUV while off the roadway on Dumont Avenue. The impact caused lower leg injuries and bruising. The SUV driver, a 27-year-old man, suffered whiplash. Both remained conscious after the collision.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old male pedestrian was injured on Dumont Avenue when a 2023 Toyota SUV traveling south struck him at the center front end. The pedestrian was located off the roadway and sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The SUV driver, a 27-year-old licensed male from New York, was also injured, suffering whiplash and wearing a lap belt. The driver was traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified for both parties, with no explicit driver errors noted. The pedestrian was not in the roadway, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720878 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 16 - A northbound SUV rear-ended a stopped SUV on Rockaway Avenue. The front passenger in the struck car suffered fractures and dislocations. Police cite following too closely as the driver’s error.

According to the police report, a northbound Ford SUV on Rockaway Avenue in Brooklyn stopped in traffic. Another northbound Ford SUV failed to keep distance and crashed into the rear of the stopped vehicle. The front passenger in the struck SUV, a 59-year-old woman, suffered full-body injuries, including fractures and dislocations. She wore a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. Police list 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, identifying driver error as the cause of the crash. No victim actions contributed to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717789 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 15 - Senate passes S 4647. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. It funds more enforcement. It pushes work zone safety awareness. Lawmakers move to protect workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 4647, titled "Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker, promotes work zone safety awareness, and establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement," advanced through committee on April 15, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy, with Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors, the bill passed multiple Senate votes. The measure targets drivers who endanger highway workers, boosts safety awareness, and funds enforcement. The bill aims to curb driver recklessness in work zones, where danger is high and impact is deadly.

• File S 4647, Open States, Published 2024-04-15

Apr 9 - A 23-year-old unlicensed moped driver suffered a head injury and partial ejection after a collision in Brooklyn. The crash involved unsafe speed and struck the moped’s left rear quarter panel. The driver was left in shock with serious injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:25 in Brooklyn near 185 Wortman Avenue. The moped driver, a 23-year-old male, was traveling east going straight ahead when the collision impacted the left rear quarter panel of his vehicle. The report cites 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The driver was partially ejected and sustained a head injury classified with injury severity level 3. He was not wearing any safety equipment and was unlicensed at the time of the crash. The other vehicle involved, a 2012 Audi registered in New Jersey, sustained no damage. The report does not indicate any contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior, focusing instead on the driver’s unsafe speed and unlicensed status.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716449 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 5 - An e-scooter driver was ejected and suffered serious lower leg injuries in a Brooklyn collision. The crash involved driver distraction, with the scooter striking another vehicle head-on. The injured man remained conscious despite his trauma.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old male e-scooter driver traveling west on Dumont Avenue was involved in a crash at approximately 7:30 PM. The driver was ejected from the vehicle and sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the collision. The e-scooter struck the center front end of another vehicle traveling south. The injured driver was conscious at the scene and wore a helmet, though no other contributing victim behaviors were noted. Vehicle damage was centered on the front end of the e-scooter. The data highlights driver error as the primary cause, with no fault attributed to the injured rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715352 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 5 - Dawn broke in Brooklyn as an SUV ran a signal on Wortman Avenue. Steel struck a 57-year-old man. The city stirred; he did not. His body lay still, crushed in the road, another life ended by disregard behind the wheel.

According to the police report, a station wagon/SUV traveling east on Wortman Avenue near Georgia Avenue disregarded a traffic control device in the early morning hours. The report states the vehicle "ran the signal" and struck a 57-year-old man who was in the roadway. The pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries to his entire body and was pronounced dead at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors on the part of the driver. No evidence in the report suggests any contributing behavior by the victim. The impact occurred away from an intersection, with the SUV's center front end colliding with the pedestrian. The narrative underscores the violence of the crash: "Steel met flesh. The light changed. He did not."

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715011 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19