Third Avenue: Two Miles, Too Many Graves

Jun 12 - A 27-year-old female driver suffered neck injuries after an SUV struck her vehicle’s front end on 3 Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash resulted from the SUV driver’s failure to yield right-of-way and disregard of traffic controls, causing a violent impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:52 AM on 3 Avenue near 57 Street in Brooklyn. The 27-year-old female driver, wearing a lap belt, was injured with whiplash and neck trauma, classified as injury severity 3. The report cites the SUV driver’s failure to yield right-of-way and disregard of traffic controls as contributing factors. The SUV, traveling north, struck the right front bumper of the victim’s vehicle, which was traveling west. The impact was centered on the front end of the victim’s vehicle. The victim was conscious and not ejected. No other contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior were noted. This crash highlights the dangers posed by driver errors such as failure to yield and traffic control violations.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732171 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 10 - A 29-year-old male moped driver was ejected and injured on 4 Avenue. He sustained abrasions and lower arm injuries. The vehicle showed no damage. The crash occurred while traveling north, with unspecified contributing factors noted by police.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old male driver operating a gas moped on 4 Avenue was ejected from his vehicle and suffered injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The driver was conscious but sustained abrasions. The moped was traveling north and struck an object or surface with its left front bumper, yet the vehicle showed no damage. The report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, indicating no clear driver error was identified. The driver was not wearing any safety equipment at the time. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved or injured. The lack of vehicle damage alongside the driver's ejection highlights the severity of the impact on the vulnerable occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731345 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 7 - Albany lawmakers shut down a last-ditch MTA funding plan after Governor Hochul paused congestion pricing. No replacement for the lost $1 billion. Transit riders and street users face uncertainty. Lawmakers call the move reckless. The city waits. Danger lingers.

On June 7, 2024, the New York State legislative session ended without passing a replacement funding plan for the MTA after Governor Kathy Hochul paused congestion pricing. The matter, described as 'Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing,' left the MTA without the $1 billion annual revenue congestion pricing would have provided. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced the session’s close without a deal. Lawmakers including State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, State Sen. John Liu, Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, and Assemblyman Tony Simone criticized the governor’s decision and the proposed IOU bailout. Gounardes said, 'I cannot in good conscience ratify a decision that will eliminate a significant, dedicated revenue source for the MTA’s capital plan.' The pause leaves the city’s transit future—and the safety of those who rely on it—uncertain.

• Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing, nypost.com, 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 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 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 - A 48-year-old woman suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after an SUV driver failed to yield right-of-way at a Brooklyn intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when struck. The driver was making a left turn at the time.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:35 PM in Brooklyn near 5502 3 Avenue. A 48-year-old female pedestrian was crossing the intersection with the signal when she was struck by a 2017 Toyota SUV making a left turn. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor attributed to the driver. The pedestrian sustained abrasions to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle southbound. The SUV showed no damage, indicating impact dynamics that still caused injury despite the absence of visible vehicle damage. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the pedestrian's behavior beyond crossing with the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729729 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 3 - Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

Jun 1 - A distracted driver veered on the Gowanus Expressway. Metal slammed metal. A 39-year-old woman, riding as a passenger, took the brunt. Neck injured. Whiplash. She stayed conscious. System failed her.

According to the police report, a multi-vehicle crash struck the Gowanus Expressway at 17:13. A sedan, SUV, and taxi moved north when a driver, distracted and inattentive, changed lanes unsafely. The collision injured a 39-year-old female passenger. She suffered neck trauma and whiplash but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. The passenger wore a lap belt. No errors are attributed to her. This crash shows the danger of driver distraction and reckless lane changes on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729329 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 1 - A motorcycle making a left turn collided with a sedan traveling straight on 3 Avenue in Brooklyn. The motorcycle driver suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. Both vehicles sustained front quarter panel damage in the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:46 on 3 Avenue in Brooklyn. A motorcycle was making a left turn when it collided with a sedan traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the left front quarter panel of the motorcycle and the right front quarter panel of the sedan. The motorcycle driver, a 24-year-old male, was injured with abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm but was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles northbound. The report lists the motorcycle driver's contributing factors as unspecified and does not cite any specific driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729289 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 26 - Two male drivers collided on the Gowanus Expressway at dawn. Both suffered upper arm injuries and whiplash. Police cited improper passing and lane usage as the cause. Vehicles struck front ends during an eastbound lane change maneuver.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5:25 AM on the Gowanus Expressway involving a 2020 Mazda SUV and a 2009 BMW sedan, both traveling eastbound. The SUV driver was changing lanes when the collision happened, impacting the left front bumper of the SUV and the center front end of the sedan. Both drivers, males, sustained upper arm injuries and whiplash but were conscious and not ejected. The report explicitly lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the primary contributing factor for both drivers. This indicates driver error in lane management led to the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727503 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 24 - SUV slammed into e-scooter’s back end on 3rd Avenue. Rider, 29, left with raw knees and battered legs. Metal met flesh. Brooklyn street, another wound.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV heading north on 3 Avenue struck a westbound e-scooter at 35 Street in Brooklyn. The SUV’s right front quarter panel hit the e-scooter’s center back end. The e-scooter driver, a 29-year-old man, suffered abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He was conscious and not ejected. The report lists all contributing factors as unspecified, with no direct cause assigned to the e-scooter driver. The SUV driver was licensed and driving straight. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash underscores the danger when heavy vehicles cross paths with vulnerable riders.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727496 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 23 - A dump truck hit a parked sedan’s rear in Brooklyn. The sedan’s driver, a 51-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries. Police cite driver inattention. The crash exposes the threat heavy trucks pose on city streets.

According to the police report, a dump truck traveling west on 20th Street in Brooklyn struck the left rear bumper of a parked 2018 Toyota sedan at 10:22 a.m. The sedan’s 51-year-old female driver was injured, suffering neck pain and whiplash. She was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the contributing factor. The dump truck’s right front bumper hit the sedan’s left rear. The driver of the sedan was wearing a lap belt. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the danger of distracted driving by operators of large vehicles in dense urban areas.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726963 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 22 - A 66-year-old woman rode her moped west on 39th Street. The street gave way. She flew, struck her head, and died alone on the asphalt. No helmet. The city’s broken ground claimed her last breath.

A 66-year-old woman was killed while riding a moped westbound on 39th Street, near Council District 38, according to the police report. The report states, 'The pavement broke beneath her.' She was ejected from the moped, struck her head, and died at the scene. Police list 'Pavement Defective' as the primary contributing factor. The victim was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the systemic failure of the roadway. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of neglected infrastructure, as the defective pavement directly led to the fatal ejection and head injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726907 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 22 - A pickup truck turned left across 4th Avenue, striking a 49-year-old man on an e-bike. Thrown and crushed, he died in the street. The twisted bike and bloodied truck marked the violence of the city’s roads.

A 49-year-old man riding an e-bike was killed at the intersection of 4th Avenue and 53rd Street in Brooklyn when a pickup truck turned left and struck him, according to the police report. The report states the e-bike rider was 'thrown' and 'crushed,' dying at the scene. Both the pickup truck and the e-bike were cited for 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The pickup, a 2007 Chevrolet, was making a left turn when it collided with the e-bike, which was traveling straight. The police report describes the aftermath: 'The bike lay twisted. The truck bore blood and silence.' The e-bike rider was ejected and suffered crush injuries to the entire body. The data does not specify helmet use or other victim behaviors as contributing factors. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726906 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 20 - A 41-year-old man suffered bruises and arm injuries after a sedan failed to yield while making a left turn. The impact struck the pedestrian at the intersection. The driver’s error caused serious harm despite no visible vehicle damage.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 4 Avenue and 55 Street in Brooklyn at 18:18. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2019 Honda sedan, driven by a licensed female driver traveling southwest, made a left turn and struck him. The point of impact was the vehicle’s center front end. The report cites the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to the elbow, lower arm, and hand, classified as injury severity level 3. Despite the collision, the vehicle showed no damage. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior beyond the driver’s failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726730 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 17 - A 29-year-old male driver suffered a head contusion after his SUV rear-ended a sedan on the Gowanus Expressway. The crash involved following too closely, causing front-end damage to the SUV and back-end damage to the sedan. The driver remained conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the Gowanus Expressway at 10:06 a.m. A 29-year-old male driver of a 2018 Honda SUV was injured, sustaining a head contusion but remained conscious. The report cites 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor for the SUV driver, indicating driver error in maintaining safe distance. The SUV impacted the center front end of the sedan, which suffered center back end damage. Both vehicles were traveling eastbound, going straight ahead. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected from the vehicle. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726169 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 15 - A 51-year-old man lost consciousness on the Gowanus Expressway. His SUV slammed into seven vehicles. Metal twisted. Glass flew. He died at the scene. Several others suffered neck injuries as traffic crawled past the wreckage.

According to the police report, a 51-year-old man driving a station wagon/SUV westbound on the Gowanus Expressway lost consciousness behind the wheel. The report states, "His SUV struck seven cars. Metal tore. Glass scattered. Airbags bloomed." The driver died, "strapped in his seat, still and silent, as traffic crawled past the wreckage." The sole contributing factor listed is "Lost Consciousness." No driver errors are cited for the other vehicles. Multiple occupants in the struck cars suffered neck injuries, consistent with whiplash. The crash triggered a chain reaction across seven vehicles, leaving one dead and several injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725083 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 15 - A sedan hit a parked SUV in Brooklyn. The SUV’s 65-year-old driver was knocked unconscious. The crash set off a chain of impacts among parked cars. Streets turned brutal. No cause listed.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Prospect Avenue struck the center back end of a parked SUV. The SUV’s 65-year-old male driver was injured and rendered unconscious. The report lists his injury severity as serious. Multiple parked vehicles were damaged in the crash. The sedan’s pre-crash action was 'Going Straight Ahead,' while the SUV was 'Parked.' The police report does not specify any contributing factors for the collision. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not attribute fault to the injured driver or list helmet or signal use as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725325 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19