Two Dead, Hundreds Hurt—Who Will Stop the Killing on Spring Creek Streets?

Aug 8 - A motorcycle making a left turn hit the front of an SUV on Flatlands Avenue at Elton Street. The 23-year-old motorcyclist was ejected and suffered a bruised elbow. The SUV driver was uninjured. Police listed contributing factors as unspecified.

According to the police report, "the motorcycle was making a left turn when it struck the center front end of the SUV, which was going straight." A 23-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected and suffered a contusion to his elbow and lower arm. The SUV driver, a 22-year-old woman, was not injured. Police recorded contributing factors as "Unspecified" for the crash and listed unspecified factors for the motorcyclist. The report also notes the motorcycle driver’s license status as unlicensed and the SUV driver as licensed. No other causal factors appear in the data provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833747 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Aug 3 - Two SUVs collided on Seaview Avenue. Three passengers were injured: a 54-year-old woman with a neck bruise, a 15-year-old girl with a shoulder bruise, and a 58-year-old man with a hip bruise. Police cited unsafe lane changing.

Two sport utility vehicles collided on Seaview Avenue in Brooklyn, injuring three vehicle occupants. According to the police report, the crash involved "Unsafe Lane Changing." A 54-year-old woman suffered a neck contusion, a 15-year-old girl suffered a shoulder contusion, and a 58-year-old man sustained a hip contusion. Both drivers were licensed and both vehicles were traveling north. One vehicle showed left-side door damage; the other showed right front bumper damage. Police recorded unsafe lane changing by the driver as the contributing factor in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832528 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jul 16 - A driver spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The car struck a woman on the curb. She died at the hospital. Police charged the driver with negligent homicide. The lot was left scarred. The city mourns another loss.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-16), Zachary Cando, 24, was 'doing the dangerous spinning trick' known as donuts in a Gateway Center parking lot when he lost control and hit Madisyn Ruiz, 21, who was sitting nearby. Ruiz died after being rushed to the hospital. Police charged Cando with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The article notes the car was 'badly dented in the front.' The crash highlights the risks of reckless driving in public spaces and the need for stronger deterrents in parking lots.

• Driver Kills Girlfriend Doing Donuts, New York Post, Published 2025-07-16

Jul 15 - A car spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The driver lost control. The machine struck Madison Ruiz as she sat by the curb. She died at the hospital. The driver faces criminal charges.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-15), Madison Ruiz, 21, was killed when Zachary Cando, 24, lost control of a Genesis G80 while 'doing donuts' in a Gateway Plaza parking lot. The article states Cando 'lost control' and struck Ruiz as she sat by the curb. Police charged Cando with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The incident highlights the risks of reckless driving in public spaces and raises questions about parking lot safety and enforcement.

• Driver Doing Donuts Kills Brooklyn Woman, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-15

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and double-park in bus lanes. More vehicles in bus lanes mean more risk for people walking, biking, and waiting at curbs. Danger grows where curb chaos reigns.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since July 14, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...exempting ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allowing them to double park to assist passengers,' would let ambulettes drive, stop, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Council Member Julie Menin sponsors, joined by Linda Lee, Frank Morano, Eric Dinowitz, Lynn C. Schulman, Kamillah Hanks, Carlina Rivera, and Chris Banks. Allowing more vehicles to double-park and block bus lanes increases risk for pedestrians and cyclists at the curb. The city’s most vulnerable will face more conflict and less safe space.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 13 - The driver of an SUV hit a sedan on Belt Parkway. A 56-year-old man bled from his elbow and lower arm. Police listed 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage'. One driver was unlicensed. The injured driver remained conscious.

A driver in an SUV collided with a sedan on Belt Parkway. A 56-year-old male driver suffered severe bleeding to his elbow, lower arm and hand and remained conscious. "According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling straight when they crashed." The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. The report also records that one driver was unlicensed. Police logged the points of impact on the SUV's right front quarter panel and the sedan's left rear quarter panel. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827673 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jul 13 - A sedan hit a 21-year-old woman off Gateway Drive. She died from crush injuries. Police cite driver distraction and unsafe speed. The car’s front end took the impact. No other injuries reported.

A 21-year-old woman walking near 395 Gateway Drive in Brooklyn was struck and killed by a sedan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was not in the roadway when the car hit her, causing fatal crush injuries to her entire body. The sedan’s center front end was damaged. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. No other serious injuries were reported among the vehicle occupants. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of driver error in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827641 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jul 12 - Two men crossed Third Avenue. A BMW struck them. Blood marked the car. The driver fled. Police tracked him down. He faces manslaughter charges. Sunset Park mourns.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-12), a BMW driver hit and killed two men, ages 59 and 80, as they crossed Third Ave. at 52nd St. in Brooklyn. The driver, Juventino Anastacio Florentino, left the scene, leaving car parts behind. Police used license plate readers to find him. Florentino admitted, 'I had a six pack of Modelos and two drinks... It's my fault.' His blood alcohol content was 0.06%, below the legal limit. He faces manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges. The case highlights the deadly risk of hit-and-run crashes and the role of alcohol, even below legal thresholds.

• BMW Driver Kills Two in Brooklyn Hit-and-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-12

• 2 Men Killed in Hit-and-Run on Brooklyn Street Known for Deadly Crashes, The New York Times, Published 2025-07-11

Jul 9 - A masked moped rider struck Zhou Xie, 90, in a Brooklyn crosswalk. The rider fled. Xie died from head trauma. Police search for the driver. The street stayed silent. The city counts another loss.

NY Daily News (2025-07-09) reports Zhou Xie, 90, was killed by a hit-and-run moped rider while crossing E. 14th St. at Avenue U. Xie was in the crosswalk when a blue moped, driven by a masked man, hit him and fled. A witness said, "He hit the guy and he left." Police are searching for surveillance footage to identify the rider. The article notes 56 people have died in city traffic so far in 2025. The crash highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians and the challenge of enforcing safe streets.

• Moped Rider Kills Elderly Pedestrian In Brooklyn, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 3 - Two sedans collided on Schenck Ave. Backing unsafely left a driver and passenger hurt. Metal twisted. Pain followed. Brooklyn streets, again, proved unforgiving.

Two sedans crashed on Schenck Ave at Flatlands Ave in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both vehicles were involved when one backed unsafely. A 68-year-old male driver and a 74-year-old female passenger suffered injuries, including back and lower leg pain. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' as the main contributing factor. No other errors or factors were cited. The crash left two people in shock and pain, underscoring the danger when drivers reverse without care.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824959 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 29 - An eight-year-old boy died after a Honda SUV struck him at Eastern Parkway and Albany Ave. He was dragged under the car. Blood pooled. His sister watched. The driver stayed. No arrest. The city investigates.

NY Daily News (2025-06-29) reports an 8-year-old boy was fatally struck by a 69-year-old Honda Pilot driver at Eastern Parkway and Albany Ave. in Brooklyn. The boy was crossing when hit; witnesses saw him dragged from under the SUV. The article quotes, "I saw the kid being dragged from underneath the car by a woman." The driver remained at the scene. No arrests were made. NYPD Collision Squad investigates. The crash highlights persistent dangers at city intersections and the lethal risk large vehicles pose to children.

• Child Killed By SUV In Crown Heights, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-29

Jun 24 - Seventeen-year-old Jhoan Puga died after his moped struck a turning car in Midwood. His passenger was thrown and critically hurt. The crash left trauma and questions in its wake.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-24), Jhoan Puga, 17, was riding a gas moped north on East Eighth St. in Brooklyn when he collided with a Genesis G80 driven by a 71-year-old man making a left turn. The impact threw Puga and his passenger, causing severe injuries. The article states, "Jhoan later died at the hospital." The driver remained at the scene. No arrests have been made. The NYPD collision squad is investigating. The crash highlights risks at intersections and the vulnerability of moped riders in city traffic.

• Teen Killed, Passenger Hurt In Moped Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-24

Jun 23 - SUV hit a 13-year-old girl crossing Twin Pines Drive. She suffered a fractured leg. The driver and passenger were unhurt. Police list contributing factors as unspecified.

A BMW SUV struck a 13-year-old girl as she crossed Twin Pines Drive in Brooklyn. She suffered a fractured leg and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the girl was not at an intersection or crosswalk. The driver and a passenger in the SUV were uninjured. The police report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are noted in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823194 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 21 - A moving sedan struck two parked cars on Vandalia Ave. Three people suffered injuries. Passengers took the brunt. Metal twisted. Whiplash and pain followed. Brooklyn street, another crash, more hurt.

A northbound sedan making a left turn on Vandalia Ave hit two parked sedans. According to the police report, three people were injured: a 17-year-old male rear passenger, a 45-year-old male front passenger, and a 27-year-old male driver. All reported whiplash and bodily injuries. The crash involved a MAZD sedan striking a parked MERZ and CHEV sedan. No contributing factors were specified in the police report. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact left passengers and drivers hurt, underscoring the danger parked cars face from moving vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822181 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 16 - Pickup hit a 15-year-old girl crossing Flatlands Avenue with the signal. She suffered facial injuries. Two occupants in the truck were unhurt. No driver errors listed. Streets failed to protect.

A pickup truck struck a 15-year-old pedestrian as she crossed Flatlands Avenue at Elton Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the girl was crossing with the signal at the intersection and suffered abrasions to her face. Two occupants in the pickup, including the driver, were not injured. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction were noted. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians, even when following signals, on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821087 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 16 - White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-16