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

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 17 - A southbound motorcycle struck the left front bumper of a southbound SUV making a left turn on Louisiana Avenue in Brooklyn. The motorcycle driver, a 61-year-old man, suffered knee and lower leg injuries but remained conscious and was not ejected.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Louisiana Avenue in Brooklyn at 11:00 AM. A 61-year-old male motorcycle driver traveling southbound collided with the left front bumper of a southbound SUV that was making a left turn. The motorcycle sustained damage to its left front bumper, and the SUV's center front end was damaged. The motorcycle driver was injured, suffering contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot, but remained conscious and was not ejected. Both drivers were licensed. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but highlights the SUV driver's left turn as the pre-crash action leading to the collision. No pedestrian or cyclist behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780077 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 16 - A 24-year-old male driver suffered neck injuries and abrasions when his sedan experienced tire failure on the Belt Parkway. The vehicle struck an object front center, deploying airbags. The crash occurred early morning, highlighting tire maintenance risks.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old male driver was injured in a crash on the Belt Parkway at 3:00 AM. The driver was operating a 2020 Honda sedan traveling eastbound, going straight ahead when the crash occurred. The report cites 'Tire Failure/Inadequate' as the primary contributing factor to the collision. The vehicle sustained damage to the center front end, and the driver's airbags deployed. The driver was not ejected and remained conscious but suffered neck injuries and abrasions. The police report does not indicate any pedestrian or cyclist involvement or victim behaviors contributing to the crash. This incident underscores the critical role of vehicle maintenance, specifically tire condition, in preventing crashes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780060 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 8 - A distracted driver slammed into a sedan’s rear on Pennsylvania Avenue. The 23-year-old rear driver suffered neck injuries. Police cite inattention as the cause. A parked Jeep was also struck.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling north on Pennsylvania Avenue collided in a rear-end crash at 5:10 AM. The 23-year-old driver of the rear sedan suffered neck injuries, described as whiplash, and was conscious at the scene. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, showing the rear driver failed to pay attention. Both vehicles were moving straight ahead when the impact occurred. The crash also damaged a parked 2018 Jeep SUV on its left rear quarter panel. No other contributing factors or victim actions were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777342 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 8 - A 22-year-old driver slammed into sedans on Belt Parkway. Unsafe speed sent metal crunching. Head bruised, he stayed conscious. The road showed no mercy. Only luck kept it from being worse.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old man driving a sedan on Belt Parkway crashed into other sedans while heading east. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the main contributing factor. The driver suffered a head contusion but remained conscious. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact hit the front of the driver's sedan and the rear of others. The police report highlights unsafe speed as the primary driver error. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777341 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 7 - A sedan struck hard on its right side. The driver, a 65-year-old man, suffered arm and shoulder injuries. He was conscious. No other people hurt. No listed driver errors. The road showed its teeth.

According to the police report, a 2016 Toyota sedan traveling east on Belt Parkway crashed at 6:45 a.m. The car hit an object or surface on its right side, damaging the right doors and rear quarter panel. The only occupant, a 65-year-old male driver, was conscious and suffered upper arm and shoulder injuries, along with whiplash. His injuries were rated moderate. He wore a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors. No other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777351 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 1 - SUV hit sedan head-on in Brooklyn. Sedan driver took the blow—face cut, neck snapped. Both cars wrecked up front. No pedestrians. No cyclists. Just steel and injury.

According to the police report, a sedan and an SUV collided on Flatlands Avenue near Van Siclen Avenue in Brooklyn at 5:35 AM. The SUV’s left front bumper struck the sedan’s center front end. The sedan’s 39-year-old male driver suffered facial injuries and whiplash. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight. The report lists unspecified contributing factors and does not cite driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left both vehicles with heavy front-end damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775319 - 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 - A 62-year-old male bicyclist sustained whiplash and injuries to his entire body in a collision on Pennsylvania Avenue. The cyclist was conscious and not ejected. Police report lists unspecified contributing factors but no clear driver errors.

According to the police report, a 62-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a crash on Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn at 9:42 AM. The cyclist was traveling north, going straight ahead, when the collision occurred, impacting the center front end of his bike. The bicyclist suffered injuries to his entire body, including whiplash, and remained conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for the bicyclist, and no explicit driver errors or violations are noted. The crash involved a single bike and an unspecified vehicle, with no details on the other vehicle's movement or damage. The lack of identified driver errors or victim contributing factors leaves the cause unclear but confirms serious injury to the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775324 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 21 - A 27-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck by an SUV making a right turn. The driver’s inattention and disregard for traffic control caused knee and lower leg injuries. The pedestrian suffered contusions but remained conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Fountain Avenue near Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn at 9:25 p.m. A 27-year-old male pedestrian was crossing at an intersection with the signal when a Station Wagon/SUV making a right turn struck him on the right rear quarter panel. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises, and remained conscious. The report identifies the primary contributing factor as driver inattention and distraction, along with traffic control disregarded by the driver. The pedestrian was not cited for any contributing factor. The collision highlights a failure by the driver to yield and maintain attention at a controlled intersection, resulting in serious harm to a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773207 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 20 - A sedan traveling west on Gateway Drive struck an object or lost control. The front passenger, a 20-year-old woman, suffered an eye injury and shock. The driver fell asleep, causing the crash and severe vehicle damage to the front center.

According to the police report, a 2024 Chevrolet sedan traveling west on Gateway Drive in Brooklyn crashed at 6:14 a.m. The driver, a licensed male from New York, was going straight ahead when the collision occurred. The report lists 'Fell Asleep' as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating driver fatigue led to loss of control or impact. The front passenger, a 20-year-old female, was injured with an eye injury and experienced shock. She was not ejected and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The vehicle sustained center front end damage. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The crash highlights the systemic danger of driver fatigue causing harm to vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772690 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 17 - A motorcycle hit a bus’s side doors in Brooklyn. Three male drivers suffered whiplash and upper body trauma. Police cite unspecified driver errors. No blame for victims. Streets left three men hurt.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling west on Schroeders Avenue collided with the left side doors of an eastbound bus in Brooklyn. Three male drivers were injured, each suffering whiplash and trauma to the back, neck, or shoulder. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, pointing to driver errors but not naming violations like failure to yield or speeding. No victim actions are cited as causes. The crash left the bus’s side doors and the motorcycle’s front end damaged. The report centers on the collision’s impact and the resulting injuries, highlighting systemic danger without blaming those hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772672 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 13 - 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

Nov 13 - Council bill targets shuttered schools. Annual study flags closed sites. Speed cameras pulled from dead zones. Streets lose watchful eyes. Vulnerable walkers and riders left exposed.

Int 1106-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, by Council Members Chris Banks (primary), Kamillah Hanks, Frank Morano, and David M. Carr. The bill orders the city to study which schools have closed each year and to remove speed cameras from those erased school zones. The matter title reads: 'Annual study to identify non-operational schools and the subsequent removal of speed cameras from eliminated school speed zones.' If passed, the law would strip cameras from streets where schools once stood, erasing a layer of protection for people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1106-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

Nov 8 - Two vehicles traveling west on Flatlands Avenue collided in Brooklyn. A sedan going straight ahead struck an SUV changing lanes. The sedan driver, a 58-year-old man, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles sustained front quarter panel damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:28 AM on Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn. A 2023 sedan, traveling west and going straight ahead, collided with a 2011 SUV also traveling west but changing lanes. The point of impact was the left front quarter panel of the sedan and the right front quarter panel of the SUV. The sedan driver, a 58-year-old male occupant wearing a lap belt and harness, was injured with neck pain and whiplash, classified as injury severity level 3. Both drivers were licensed. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but explicitly notes the SUV driver was changing lanes at the time of impact, indicating a driver error related to lane change maneuvers. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769633 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 8 - Two SUVs collided on Brooklyn’s Belt Parkway at dawn. Both drivers were men, one suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited unsafe lane changing as the cause. The crash left one driver injured, highlighting dangers of reckless lane maneuvers.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5:49 AM on Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. Two station wagons or SUVs were involved. One driver was changing lanes unsafely, striking the other vehicle’s right rear bumper with his left front bumper. The injured driver, a 43-year-old man, suffered neck injuries and whiplash but was conscious and wearing a lap belt. The report lists unsafe lane changing and following too closely as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed men from New York. The collision caused damage to the center front end of one vehicle and the right rear quarter panel of the other. The crash underscores the risks posed by unsafe lane changes on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769622 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 6 - Two buses collided on Flatlands Avenue. The moving bus struck the stopped bus’s rear. A woman passenger suffered facial bruises. No driver errors listed. Streets stayed dangerous for those inside.

According to the police report, two buses traveling east on Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn collided when one bus, going straight, hit the back of another bus stopped in traffic. A 46-year-old female passenger on one of the buses suffered facial contusions and bruises. She was conscious and not ejected. Both drivers were licensed and no driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The crash left the passenger with moderate injuries. No mention of helmet or signal use appeared in the report. The incident shows the risks bus passengers face even when drivers follow the rules.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769608 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 5 - A pick-up truck and sedan collided on Van Siclen Ave. The sedan driver, age 72, suffered neck injury and whiplash. Both vehicles took heavy front-end damage. Police cite unspecified driver errors.

According to the police report, a sedan and a pick-up truck collided at 1:00 PM on Van Siclen Ave in Brooklyn. The sedan, driven by a 72-year-old man, was hit on the right front bumper. The pick-up truck was struck on the left front. The sedan driver suffered neck pain and whiplash. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the driver, indicating driver errors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left both vehicles damaged and one driver hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770203 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 3 - Two cars slammed together on Flatlands Avenue. Both drivers followed too close. A front passenger took the hit, left with a bruised back. Metal twisted. Streets stayed hard.

According to the police report, two vehicles—a Ford sedan and a Volkswagen SUV—collided while heading east on Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn. Both drivers were cited for 'Following Too Closely,' which led to the crash. The sedan struck with its left front quarter panel; the SUV took damage to its right front. A 33-year-old male front passenger in the SUV was injured, suffering back contusions and bruises. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. No contributing factors related to the passenger's actions were listed. The crash underscores driver error in maintaining distance on a busy city street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771789 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 18 - A 68-year-old man crossing at an intersection in Brooklyn was struck by an SUV making a left turn. The impact caused knee and lower leg injuries, leaving the pedestrian bruised but conscious. The driver’s improper turn was the critical factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:30 in Brooklyn near 590 Gateway Drive. A 68-year-old male pedestrian was crossing the intersection when a 2007 Honda SUV, driven by a licensed female driver, made an improper left turn. The vehicle struck the pedestrian at the center front end, causing injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. The report explicitly cites 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor, highlighting the driver’s error. No pedestrian fault or contributing factors were noted beyond the driver’s improper maneuver. The vehicle sustained damage to its center front end, confirming the point of impact. This incident underscores the dangers posed by improper turning maneuvers in busy urban intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764662 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19