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

Sep 27 - Four sedans collided on Belt Parkway. A 26-year-old driver suffered back injuries and shock. Police cite unsafe speed and lane changing as causes. Metal twisted. Impact spread across front and sides.

According to the police report, a crash involving four sedans occurred at 1:30 AM on Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. The 26-year-old male driver of one sedan was injured, suffering back pain and shock. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. Impact points included the center front end of the injured driver's car and the side panels of the other vehicles. The police report highlights driver error as the cause, with no mention of victim fault or other contributing behaviors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759148 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 26 - Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 26 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Sep 22 - A 19-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg contusions after a sedan made a left turn in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was conscious but injured. Police report lists unspecified contributing factors without vehicle damage or driver license issues.

According to the police report, a 19-year-old male pedestrian was injured in Brooklyn at 528 Gateway Drive when a 2024 Toyota sedan, traveling southwest, made a left turn. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to the knee, lower leg, and foot, with injury severity rated as moderate. The driver, a licensed male from New York, was operating the vehicle with two occupants. The vehicle showed no damage and the point of impact was recorded as 'No Damage.' The pedestrian's actions were noted as 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but the report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' There is no mention of driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding, nor any victim behaviors contributing to the crash. The focus remains on the collision caused during the vehicle's left turn maneuver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757891 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 10 - Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-10

Aug 25 - A 44-year-old SUV driver hit parked cars on Pennsylvania Avenue. He suffered full-body injuries. Police cite unsafe speed. Airbag deployed. The crash left vehicles battered in Brooklyn night.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old man driving a 2016 Lexus SUV northbound on Pennsylvania Avenue struck multiple parked vehicles at 22:57 in Brooklyn. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The driver was semiconscious, injured across his entire body, and not ejected from the vehicle. His SUV's airbag deployed. The crash damaged a 2017 Dodge sedan and a 2019 Ford SUV, both parked at the scene. The police report does not mention any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior, focusing solely on the driver's unsafe speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751046 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 25 - A man on an unlicensed e-bike struck a young woman crossing Gateway Drive. Her leg split open. Blood pooled on the pavement. The bike’s front end crumpled. She stayed conscious, pain sharp and immediate. The rider swerved too late.

According to the police report, a man operating an unlicensed e-bike collided with a 23-year-old woman crossing Gateway Drive near 528 Gateway Drive in Brooklyn at 5:48 PM. The report details that the e-bike’s front end crumpled on impact, and the pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to her lower leg, remaining conscious at the scene. The police cite 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The e-bike operator was unlicensed and failed to avoid the pedestrian, swerving too late. The report notes the pedestrian was crossing outside the crosswalk, but this is listed after the driver’s errors. The crash left blood on the pavement and a young woman injured, underscoring the dangers posed by unlicensed and inexperienced vehicle operators.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750508 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 25 - Two sedans collided on Vandalia Avenue. Both drivers and a passenger suffered bruises and contusions. Impact struck one car’s rear, the other’s front. All occupants stayed conscious and restrained. Streets turned violent in the night.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at Vandalia Avenue and Erskine Street just after midnight. The eastbound sedan was hit on its right rear quarter panel; the northbound sedan struck with its center front end. A 28-year-old female driver and a 34-year-old female passenger were injured, both suffering contusions and bruises. The driver wore a child restraint only; the passenger used a lap belt and harness. Both remained conscious and were not ejected. The police report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding identified. The crash underscores the risk of injury even when no fault is recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752586 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 19 - A Ford SUV struck a Toyota car from behind on Belt Parkway. The car’s driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The crash happened as the SUV followed too closely, impacting the car’s rear bumper and causing significant trauma to the driver.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Belt Parkway at 3:30 PM involving a 2024 Ford SUV and a 2010 Toyota car. The Ford SUV was traveling west and struck the Toyota from behind, impacting the Toyota's left front bumper and the SUV's right rear bumper. The driver of the Toyota, a 28-year-old male occupant, was injured with neck trauma and whiplash. The report explicitly cites 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the crash, indicating driver error by the SUV operator. The Toyota driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected from the vehicle. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report. The collision highlights the dangers of tailgating on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749166 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Jul 16 - A 60-year-old woman driver suffered back injuries and whiplash after an SUV struck her vehicle’s right front quarter panel on Belt Parkway. Police cite following too closely and driver distraction as causes. The driver was conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Belt Parkway at 16:25 when a 2019 Jeep SUV traveling east struck another vehicle going straight ahead. The SUV driver, a 60-year-old woman, was injured with back pain and whiplash but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The impact occurred at the right front quarter panel of the SUV. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not indicate any victim fault or contributing behaviors beyond the driver errors. This collision underscores the dangers of tailgating and distracted driving on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740879 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 14 - Two SUVs collided head-on on Belt Parkway. The 27-year-old female driver suffered abrasions to her elbow and lower arm. The crash stemmed from unsafe lane changing and reaction to an uninvolved vehicle, causing front-end damage to both vehicles.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Belt Parkway at 9:30 AM involving two SUVs traveling east. The 27-year-old female driver of a 2023 Nissan SUV was injured, sustaining abrasions to her elbow and lower arm. The report cites 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. Both vehicles impacted at their center front ends, with damage to the left front bumper of the Nissan and the center front end of the other SUV. The injured driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The collision highlights driver errors related to lane discipline and situational awareness, with no indication of victim fault or pedestrian involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740479 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 18 - A moped smashed into a parked SUV on Seaview Avenue. The unlicensed, inexperienced driver sped west. A 16-year-old passenger broke and dislocated his shoulder. The crash left the teen conscious but wounded.

According to the police report, a moped traveling west on Seaview Avenue in Brooklyn struck a parked SUV at 23:26. The moped was operated by an unlicensed driver. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. A 16-year-old male passenger on the moped suffered a fractured and dislocated shoulder. He was not ejected and wore no safety equipment. The SUV was unoccupied and parked. The crash highlights driver errors: operating without a license, inexperience, and unsafe speed. No actions by the injured passenger contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736855 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 7 - 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 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 6 - Council calls for five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. Streets slow. Danger drops. Pedestrians and cyclists get space. Resolution adopted. Albany must act.

Res 0079-2024, adopted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 6, 2024, urges Albany to let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The resolution states: "authorize New York City to set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets participating in the Open Streets program." Council Member Shahana K. Hanif led as primary sponsor, joined by Amanda Farías, Crystal Hudson, Julie Won, and Carlina Rivera. The measure passed committee and full council on June 6. The bill aims to cut speed and risk where people walk, bike, and gather. The council's push now waits for state lawmakers and the governor.

• File Res 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-06-06

Jun 6 - 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 2024-06-06

Jun 3 - Sedan rear-ends minibike on Belt Parkway. Minibike driver suffers arm and hand injuries. Sedan driver followed too closely. Impact leaves rider hurt, exposes danger for vulnerable road users.

According to the police report, a sedan struck a minibike from behind on Belt Parkway at 12:50. The sedan, driven by a licensed man from Virginia, hit the left front bumper of the westbound minibike. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The minibike driver, a 38-year-old woman, was injured with contusions to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. She was conscious and not ejected. No other contributing factors were noted. The crash underscores the risk faced by those on smaller vehicles when drivers fail to keep safe distances.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749927 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19