Six Dead, Hundreds Broken—But the Street Never Changes

Jan 12 - A sedan driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash after a sport utility vehicle made a left turn and struck the sedan’s front. The crash trapped the 59-year-old male driver, highlighting failure to yield as the critical cause in Brooklyn.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Linden Blvd near Ashford St in Brooklyn at 1:22 p.m. The collision involved a 2011 Toyota SUV making a left turn and a 2018 Nissan sedan traveling westbound. The SUV struck the sedan's center front end, causing significant damage to both vehicles. The sedan's 59-year-old male driver was trapped inside and sustained neck injuries described as whiplash, classified as injury severity level 3. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver did not yield while turning left. Both drivers were licensed, with the SUV driver female and the sedan driver male. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785361 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 11 - A 40-year-old man was struck while crossing Linden Blvd at a marked crosswalk. The driver, making a right turn, failed to yield and was speeding. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Linden Blvd near Linwood St in Brooklyn around 12:45 a.m. A pedestrian, a 40-year-old male, was crossing at a marked crosswalk without a signal when he was struck by a vehicle making a right turn. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors attributed to the driver. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises, and was conscious after the collision. The vehicle showed no damage, indicating the impact was likely at low speed but sufficient to cause injury. The driver’s errors in yielding and speed created a hazardous condition leading to the pedestrian's injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785346 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 8 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly crossings for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 1 - 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

Dec 30 - A 34-year-old male garbage truck driver suffered a neck injury and whiplash in a Brooklyn crash just after midnight. The truck struck an object on its roof but sustained no damage. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:48 a.m. on Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver, a 34-year-old man operating a 2020 Mack garbage truck traveling north, was injured with neck pain and whiplash. The report notes the point of impact was the roof of the vehicle, which sustained no damage. The driver was not ejected and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any failure to yield or other driver errors. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved or injured. The driver was conscious throughout the incident. The data does not indicate any victim behaviors contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782810 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 23 - A male pedestrian was struck by an SUV traveling west on Ditmas Avenue in Brooklyn. The impact occurred at the vehicle's center front end. The pedestrian suffered serious injuries and was incoherent at the scene. Driver errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, a 2015 Ford SUV traveling west on Ditmas Avenue in Brooklyn struck a male pedestrian. The point of impact was the vehicle's center front end, indicating a direct collision. The pedestrian was injured with a severity level of 3 and was incoherent at the scene. The report lists the pedestrian's contributing factors as unspecified, and no driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding are explicitly cited. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle straight ahead. The report does not specify the pedestrian's location or actions prior to the collision. Vehicle damage was confined to the center front end, consistent with the impact point. The incident highlights the dangers pedestrians face even without clear driver violations documented.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782304 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 22 - A Jeep turned wrong on New Lots Ave and crashed into a parked Tesla. The driver’s back broke. Night pressed in. Metal shrieked. The street stayed quiet. Pain did not. One man left conscious, seatbelt tight, body broken.

A violent collision unfolded on New Lots Ave near Bradford St in Brooklyn when, according to the police report, a Jeep SUV 'turned wrong in the dark and slammed into a parked Tesla.' The crash occurred at 21:31, leaving the 40-year-old Jeep driver with severe back injuries and 'crush injuries,' though he remained conscious and was held by his seatbelt. The police report explicitly lists 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The Tesla was unoccupied and parked at the time of impact, according to the data. No evidence in the police report suggests any victim behavior contributed to the crash. The scene was described as quiet, but the consequences for the driver were grave. The report underscores the danger posed by improper vehicle maneuvers, especially at night on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780721 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 21 - Two sedans slammed together on Fountain Ave. A 58-year-old woman behind the wheel took the hit. Neck pain, whiplash. Police cite alcohol and vehicle error. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Fountain Avenue near Old Mill Road in Brooklyn. A 58-year-old female driver was injured, suffering neck injuries and whiplash. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' and 'Alcohol Involvement' as contributing factors, pointing to driver error and impairment. Both cars struck at the left front bumper, crushing their center front ends. One sedan was parked before impact; the other moved south. The injured driver wore a lap belt and harness. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash underscores the risk of alcohol and poor vehicle control on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780717 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 20 - A 47-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and suffered facial injuries with minor bleeding. The rider was unlicensed and traveling east on New Lots Ave. No vehicle damage was reported. The crash caused shock and injury severity rated three.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old male bicyclist was injured and ejected while traveling east on New Lots Ave at 22:50. The bicyclist sustained facial injuries with minor bleeding and was in shock. The vehicle involved was a bike operated by an unlicensed male driver. The report notes no damage to the vehicle and no other vehicles involved with identifiable data. The contributing factors are unspecified, but the unlicensed status of the bicyclist is a key driver-related issue. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The report does not indicate any other vehicle driver errors or victim behaviors contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780708 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 19 - Council bill targets speed. Shared e-bikes and scooters must have speedometers. New riders get capped at 10 mph. Law aims to slow the city’s fastest wheels. Committee review underway.

Int 1145-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024, the bill would require all shared electric bikes and scooters to have working speedometers. For new riders, electric assist cuts out at 10 mph. The matter title reads: 'requiring that electric bicycles and electric scooters that are part of share systems have speedometers and limit electric speed assistance to new riders.' Council Members Linda Lee (primary sponsor), Gale A. Brewer, and Chris Banks back the bill. Brewer referred it to committee. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill awaits further action.

• File Int 1145-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

Dec 18 - 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

Dec 15 - Two SUVs crashed at Pennsylvania Avenue and Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn. A five-year-old rear passenger suffered injuries and shock. The impact damaged the front and right sides of the vehicles. Driver errors remain unspecified in the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 13:20 on Pennsylvania Avenue near Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn. Two SUVs were involved: a 2007 Dodge SUV making a right turn and a 2020 Infiniti SUV traveling straight south. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the Dodge and the right front quarter panel of the Infiniti, causing damage to the center front end and right side doors respectively. A five-year-old male occupant seated in the left rear passenger position of one vehicle was injured and experienced shock, though no visible complaints were noted. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors, leaving the cause of the collision unspecified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778880 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 12 - A 51-year-old man crossing Warwick Street was struck by a sedan backing northward. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian’s hip and upper leg, causing bruising. Police cite driver inattention and unsafe backing as key factors in the collision.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Warwick Street backed unsafely, striking a 51-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing outside a crosswalk or signal. The vehicle’s point of impact was the center back end, consistent with the pre-crash action of backing. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his hip and upper leg, described as contusions and bruises, and remained conscious. The report explicitly identifies 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. No pedestrian behaviors were cited as contributing factors. This incident highlights the dangers posed by inattentive drivers performing unsafe backing maneuvers in areas where pedestrians are present.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778286 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 9 - A 44-year-old woman suffered a fractured shoulder and dislocation after a sedan struck her at a marked crosswalk on Vermont Street. The driver, making a left turn, failed to yield and was inattentive, causing severe injury at the intersection.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Vermont Street was making a left turn when it struck a 44-year-old female pedestrian crossing at a marked crosswalk without a signal. The pedestrian sustained a fractured and dislocated upper arm, classified as a severe injury. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front bumper, indicating the collision occurred during the turn. The report cites driver errors including 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was conscious and injured at the scene. No pedestrian behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and operating a 2004 Toyota sedan with one occupant. This crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted drivers failing to yield to pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777540 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 4 - A sedan making a U-turn struck the left rear bumper of a bus stopped in traffic on Ashford Street in Brooklyn. The sedan driver suffered back injuries and whiplash but was not ejected. The crash exposed risks from improper vehicle maneuvers.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:59 AM on Ashford Street in Brooklyn. A sedan traveling north was making a U-turn when it collided with the left rear bumper of a bus that was stopped in traffic, also traveling north. The point of impact was the sedan's center back end and the bus's left rear bumper. The sedan driver, a 38-year-old male, was injured with back pain and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. He was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report lists the sedan driver's pre-crash action as 'Making U Turn,' indicating a driver error contributing to the collision. No contributing factors were specified for the bus driver. This crash highlights dangers posed by improper turning maneuvers in traffic and the vulnerability of vehicle occupants during rear-end impacts.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777333 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 27 - A driver struck three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, hit a vehicle with a pregnant woman, then crashed into an empty car. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her at the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist reported on November 27, 2024, that a New York City Housing Authority employee was arrested after a chaotic crash in Brooklyn. According to police, the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," then "drove away, dragging the person several feet and hitting another car with a pregnant woman inside." She struck a third, empty car before New York City Sheriffs arrested her nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but no serious injuries were reported. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights the dangers of hit-and-run behavior and the risks faced by vulnerable road users at busy intersections.

• Three-Car Brooklyn Crash Sparks Arrest, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

Nov 26 - SUV hit a stopped sedan’s right side in Brooklyn. Sedan driver, 62, suffered a head injury and shock. Police cite lost consciousness as a factor. Both drivers licensed. Impact was sudden, violent.

According to the police report, a Jeep SUV traveling north on Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn struck the right side doors of a stopped BMW sedan, also heading north. The sedan’s 62-year-old male driver suffered a head injury and was in shock. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as a contributing factor. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The SUV’s front bumper hit the sedan’s right rear quarter panel. The collision left the sedan driver injured. The police report highlights 'Lost Consciousness' as a factor, but the crash resulted from the SUV striking a stopped vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775325 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 24 - A sedan struck a 34-year-old man crossing Hegeman Avenue. The impact broke his hip and leg. He lay incoherent, hurt, in the street. The crash left the car’s front end smashed.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Hegeman Avenue at Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn struck a 34-year-old male pedestrian. The man was crossing against the signal at the intersection. The sedan hit him with its left front bumper, damaging the car’s center front end. The pedestrian suffered hip and upper leg injuries and was incoherent at the scene, complaining of pain and nausea. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver errors are cited in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773708 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 20 - A Toyota SUV hit a 58-year-old woman in the road near 570 Pennsylvania Ave. Her skull broke. Her body crushed. She died there, in the street. The SUV rolled on, untouched. Brooklyn pavement bore the weight of her last breath.

According to the police report, a Toyota SUV traveling north near 570 Pennsylvania Ave in Brooklyn struck a 58-year-old woman who was in the roadway. The report states, 'Her skull broke. Her body crushed. She died there, in the street.' The pedestrian suffered fatal head and crush injuries. The SUV sustained no damage and continued on. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway' at the time of the crash. The focus remains on the lethal impact of the SUV and the systemic danger faced by pedestrians in Brooklyn streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772871 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 20 - A sedan making a left turn collided with a bicyclist traveling straight west on Georgia Ave. The 23-year-old male cyclist suffered abrasions and injuries to his entire body. The sedan’s right front bumper and the bike’s front end were damaged.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:08 AM on Georgia Ave near New Lots Ave. The sedan, driven by a licensed female driver traveling east, was making a left turn when it struck a 23-year-old male bicyclist traveling straight westbound. The point of impact was the sedan’s right front bumper and the bike’s left front bumper. The bicyclist was injured with abrasions and trauma to his entire body but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the bicyclist but does not specify any driver errors explicitly. The collision’s circumstances suggest failure to yield by the turning sedan, a common cause in left-turn crashes involving cyclists. The bicyclist was not reported to have contributed to the crash by any listed factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772974 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19