Six Dead, Hundreds Broken—But the Street Never Changes

May 13 - Senate passes S 346. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. Pushes work zone safety. Sets up new enforcement fund. Lawmakers move to shield workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 346 cleared committee on May 13, 2025. The bill, titled 'Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker; promotes work zone safety awareness; establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement,' aims to crack down on drivers who threaten highway workers. Senator Jeremy Cooney led as primary sponsor, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, Christopher Ryan, and James Skoufis. The committee voted yes. The bill targets reckless driving in work zones, boosting penalties and funding enforcement. It marks a step to protect those most exposed to traffic danger.

• File S 346, Open States, Published 2025-05-13

May 12 - A sedan struck a parked car on Livonia Ave. One man, 39, suffered arm and shoulder pain. Police cite driver inexperience. The street saw shock, pain, and broken metal.

A crash on Livonia Ave at Alabama Ave in Brooklyn involved two sedans. According to the police report, a driver lost control and struck a parked car. One 39-year-old man, driving the moving sedan, was injured in the shoulder and upper arm and reported pain and shock. Police list 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The parked car was empty except for registered occupants, who were not reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813071 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 11 - A sedan struck on Pennsylvania Ave. Two men injured. Police cite driver inattention. Pain, bruises, chaos. Brooklyn street, another crash. System failed to protect.

A crash on Pennsylvania Ave at Linden Blvd in Brooklyn left two men injured. According to the police report, a sedan was involved and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor. The front passenger, a 51-year-old man, suffered bruises to his entire body. The 45-year-old driver reported pain and nausea. Both were conscious after the crash. The report does not specify further details about the second vehicle or its driver. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report highlights driver inattention as the key factor in this incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811866 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 10 - A bus hit a 70-year-old man at Livonia Avenue and Cleveland Street. The impact broke his leg. He stayed conscious. The bus’s right front bumper took the hit. No driver errors listed. Streets remain dangerous.

A 70-year-old man walking at the intersection of Livonia Avenue and Cleveland Street in Brooklyn was struck by a bus. According to the police report, the bus’s right front bumper hit the pedestrian, causing a leg fracture and dislocation. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The bus driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No other injuries were reported. The incident highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811841 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 6 - Two cars collided at Cozine Avenue and Linwood Street. One passenger suffered whiplash. Another driver complained of chest pain. The police report lists all contributing factors as unspecified.

A sedan and an SUV crashed at Cozine Avenue and Linwood Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a 51-year-old passenger in the SUV suffered whiplash, and a 61-year-old driver reported chest pain. Both vehicles were traveling straight before impact. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are identified in the data. Lap belts and harnesses were used by the injured. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811824 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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 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 4 - A car struck a woman on New Lots Avenue. She suffered a bruised leg but stayed conscious. No driver errors listed. The system failed to protect her.

A 34-year-old woman walking on New Lots Avenue at Logan Street in Brooklyn was hit and injured. According to the police report, she suffered a contusion to her knee and lower leg but remained conscious. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. No vehicle details or driver actions are specified. The crash left the pedestrian hurt, underscoring the danger that cars pose to people on foot in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811830 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 1 - Two sedans crashed head-on in Brooklyn. Three men injured. Police cite driver inattention. Metal twisted. Night split by impact. Streets left scarred.

Two sedans traveling straight collided at the intersection of Wortman Avenue and Schenck Avenue in Brooklyn. Three men, including both drivers and a front passenger, were injured. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as the contributing factor for both vehicles. The crash left one driver in shock and another with upper arm injuries. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Both vehicles suffered front-end damage. The police report does not mention any other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809989 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 1 - A sedan hit a woman at Linden Boulevard and Bradford Street. She suffered abrasions. The police report lists no clear driver error. The crash left her conscious but hurt.

A 28-year-old woman walking at the intersection of Linden Boulevard and Bradford Street in Brooklyn was struck by a sedan. She sustained abrasions to her entire body and remained conscious. According to the police report, the crash involved a Florida-registered sedan traveling northeast. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The pedestrian’s injury is noted as 'Injured' with abrasions, and her action at the time is marked as 'Unknown.' No vehicle damage was reported. The police report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809511 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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 trap. The driver tried to break through, nearly hitting an officer. A shot rang out. The car crashed. The driver died. The passenger survived. The street bore the cost.

According to the New York Post (April 30, 2025), police shot and killed the driver of a stolen Porsche after he "nearly struck an NYPD officer" while attempting to evade a roadblock near the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. Officers first noticed the vehicle due to stolen plates and tried to pull it over on Cropsey Avenue. The driver fled, leading police to set up a blockade. As the car tried to pass, an officer fired one round, striking the driver. The wounded man crashed into a police car and was later pronounced dead at Brookdale Hospital. The passenger was unharmed and taken into custody. The incident highlights the risks of high-speed chases and roadblocks in dense urban areas, where bystanders and officers face sudden danger.

• Police Shoot Driver At Brooklyn Roadblock, New York Post, Published 2025-04-30

Apr 29 - 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 2025-04-29

Apr 24 - Council bill orders NYPD to check temp plates and VINs. Cops must publish parking enforcement reports. Bill sits in Public Safety. Streets stay risky while data hides in shadows.

Int 1252-2025, now laid over in the Committee on Public Safety, was introduced April 24, 2025. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to police department parking enforcement.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary), Oswald Feliz, Justin L. Brannan, Lincoln Restler, Robert F. Holden, and Chris Banks sponsor the measure. It forces NYPD to verify license plates and VINs on vehicles with temp tags or those ticketed for violations. NYPD must also publish quarterly parking enforcement reports. No safety analyst has assessed the bill's impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 1252-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-24

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 23 - A taxi hit a cyclist at Pennsylvania and Stanley. The cyclist, ejected and bruised, suffered a head injury. No driver errors listed. The street left the rider exposed.

A taxi and a cyclist collided at Pennsylvania Avenue and Stanley Avenue in Brooklyn. The 33-year-old male cyclist was ejected and suffered a head injury, according to the police report. He was conscious but bruised. The taxi’s front end struck the bike. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, as noted after the absence of driver fault. The crash left the cyclist injured and exposed, while the taxi driver and passenger were unhurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807733 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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 19 - A pick-up truck making a U-turn on Van Siclen Ave struck cars. Three passengers suffered neck and abdominal injuries. Metal and glass scattered. No driver errors listed. Systemic risk remains.

A pick-up truck making a U-turn on Van Siclen Ave at Stanley Ave in Brooklyn collided with multiple vehicles. According to the police report, three passengers—a 24-year-old woman, a 23-year-old woman, and a 23-year-old woman—were injured, suffering neck contusions and abdominal pain. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. Several drivers and occupants were involved, but only passengers sustained reported injuries. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed among the injured. The crash underscores the danger of vehicle maneuvers in dense city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806959 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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