Third Avenue: Two Miles, Too Many Graves

Two SUVs collided on the Gowanus Expressway. The trailing driver struck the lead vehicle’s rear. The driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles damaged front and rear. Following too closely caused the crash.

According to the police report, two SUVs traveling west on the Gowanus Expressway collided when the trailing vehicle struck the rear of the lead vehicle. The driver of the trailing SUV, a 44-year-old man, was injured with neck pain and whiplash. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor. Both vehicles sustained damage to their center front and back ends. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678032 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 31-year-old male bicyclist was injured on 36 Street near 4 Avenue in Brooklyn. The sedan was parked but involved in improper lane usage. The cyclist suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. The crash damaged the bike’s front end.

According to the police report, a bicyclist riding north on 36 Street was struck due to a sedan’s improper passing or lane usage. The 31-year-old male cyclist, wearing a helmet, sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The sedan was parked before the crash and showed no damage. The bike’s center front end was damaged. The report lists the driver error as "Passing or Lane Usage Improper." The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected. No other contributing factors were noted. The incident highlights the dangers posed by driver lane violations to vulnerable cyclists.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679662 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A Jeep hit a parked Toyota on 39th Street. The Toyota lurched forward. The driver, a 47-year-old man, was found unconscious and crushed. Illness struck before the crash. Sirens wailed, but help came too late.

A Jeep traveling west on 39th Street near 2nd Avenue in Brooklyn struck a parked Toyota. The impact forced the Toyota forward, severely injuring its 47-year-old driver. According to the police report, 'Illness took hold before impact.' The driver was found unconscious, suffering crush injuries to his entire body. The police list 'Illnes' as the contributing factor in the crash. No other driver errors are noted in the report. The Toyota was parked at the time of the collision. The report does not mention any actions by the injured driver that contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676732 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program died on October 26, 2023. No new law replaced it. Repeat speeders now face only $50 fines. City leaders showed no urgency. State bills to curb reckless driving have stalled. Vulnerable road users remain exposed.

The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program (DVAP) expired on October 26, 2023. No replacement policy was enacted. The program, which targeted drivers with 15 or more speed camera violations in a year, was criticized for weak enforcement: only 885 took the mandated safety course, and just 12 vehicles were seized. Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, District 31, was mentioned in coverage, but city officials, including Mayor Adams and Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, showed little urgency. Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi said, "We need sharper tools." State Senator Andrew Gounardes has proposed new bills, including mandatory speed governors for repeat offenders. With DVAP gone, repeat speeders face only minor fines, leaving dangerous drivers unchecked. The city and state have failed to act, leaving vulnerable road users at risk.

• A 'Dangerous' Sunset: What's Next for Reining In Reckless Drivers?, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-10-25

The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program died. No new law stands in its place. City Hall drags its feet. Reckless drivers keep rolling. State efforts stall. Vulnerable New Yorkers remain exposed. The streets stay dangerous. The clock runs out. Nothing changes.

The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program (DVAP) expired on October 25, 2023, with no replacement from the City Council or Mayor Adams. The bill targeted drivers with 15 camera-issued speeding tickets in a year, but few took the mandated safety course and almost no vehicles were seized. The matter summary: 'The program launched with a simple idea of getting reckless drivers' vehicles off our streets, so it's incredibly frustrating and disappointing that we're in this situation,' said Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Mayor Adams showed little urgency. Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi said, 'We will look to the advocacy world for support to go to the state and get better restrictions and better enforcement tools.' State Sen. Andrew Gounardes is pushing for speed governors and tougher laws, but state efforts have failed. The city’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users at risk. No effective tools remain.

• A ‘Dangerous’ Sunset: What’s Next for Reining In Reckless Drivers?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-25

Two sedans collided on the Gowanus Expressway. The rear vehicle, driven by an unlicensed male, struck the front vehicle from behind. A 50-year-old male passenger in the rear car suffered a facial contusion. The crash was caused by following too closely.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling westbound on the Gowanus Expressway collided when the rear vehicle struck the front vehicle's center back end. The rear driver was unlicensed and failed to maintain a safe distance, contributing to the crash. A 50-year-old male passenger in the rear sedan was injured, sustaining a facial contusion but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report identifies "Following Too Closely" as a contributing factor. No other factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The front vehicle was driven by a licensed female driver. The collision caused damage to the center front end of the rear vehicle and the right rear bumper of the front vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673107 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 45-year-old female bicyclist passenger suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after an SUV struck her e-bike on 41 Street near 4 Avenue in Brooklyn. The SUV was making a right turn at unsafe speed. The victim was conscious and not ejected.

According to the police report, a 45-year-old female bicyclist passenger was injured when a 2023 Mazda SUV, traveling west and making a right turn, collided with an e-bike traveling south on 41 Street near 4 Avenue in Brooklyn. The point of impact was the center front end of both vehicles. The bicyclist suffered abrasions to her knee and lower leg and remained conscious. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor for the crash. The SUV driver failed to adjust speed while turning, leading to the collision. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673449 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Red Hook wants a direct bus to Manhattan. The MTA says no. Residents wait. Cars clog the tunnel. Advocates demand space for buses, not excuses. The city’s working class and disabled riders are left stranded. The fight for fair transit continues.

On October 23, 2023, Red Hook residents and advocates renewed calls for a direct bus route to Manhattan. The Red Hook Civic Association sent a letter urging the MTA to create a regular-fare bus through the Hugh Carey Tunnel. State Sen. Andrew Gounardes backed the push, saying, "The people of Red Hook really deserve this." The MTA rejected the idea, citing congestion in the tunnel and Lower Manhattan. Joana Flores, MTA spokesperson, said it is more efficient for riders to transfer to the subway. Critics, including Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance, countered, "Bad traffic is not an excuse for not improving bus service, it’s an impetus for decongesting the street." Past proposals to extend the M22 or restore the B71 with a Manhattan extension were dismissed over cost and logistics. Advocates argue that buses move more people than cars and that congestion pricing should clear the way for better transit. The proposal remains stalled, leaving vulnerable riders waiting.

• Red Hook Pushes for Direct Bus to Manhattan; MTA Says (Wait for It) There’s Too Much ‘Congestion’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-23

A 13-year-old girl was struck at a Brooklyn intersection. She was crossing against the signal when hit by a vehicle’s front center. She suffered knee and lower leg injuries and was in shock, complaining of pain and nausea.

According to the police report, a 13-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing 3 Avenue near 57 Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when a vehicle struck her at the center front end. She sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was reported to be in shock with complaints of pain and nausea. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the driver, nor does it specify vehicle details or driver errors. The pedestrian’s action of crossing against the signal is noted, but no driver violations were recorded in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673094 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Mayor Adams left Ashland Place unfinished. Cyclists lost a safe route. Advocates, officials, and residents rallied. They blamed City Hall for caving to a developer. The most dangerous block remains untouched. Eighty-eight crashes scar the street. Safety took a back seat.

On October 13, 2023, local officials and advocates criticized Mayor Adams for halting the Ashland Place redesign. The project, led by the Department of Transportation, aimed to create a protected bike lane from the Manhattan Bridge to Barclays Center. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso said, "New York City is regressing on meeting its Vision Zero goals ... and stalled street safety improvements, like those slated for Ashland Place, are a part of the reason why." State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Council Member Crystal Hudson joined the outcry, with Hudson lamenting the incomplete corridor for cyclists. The DOT confirmed the southernmost block would not be converted, following objections from developer Two Trees Management. Advocates cited 88 crashes and multiple injuries in two years, with the most dangerous block excluded from improvements. Residents and advocates rallied, accusing the mayor of prioritizing business over public safety. City Hall deflected, blaming e-bikes for rising cyclist deaths.

• Pols, Advocates Slam Mayor Adams for Unfinished Ashland Place, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-13

A sedan traveling south hit the right rear quarter panel of a westbound car making a left turn on 5 Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver of the sedan suffered a fractured knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on 5 Avenue collided with a car making a left turn westbound. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the sedan and the right rear quarter panel of the turning vehicle. The sedan's driver, a 23-year-old male occupant, sustained a fractured knee and lower leg injuries but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim actions were noted. The injured party was the sedan driver; no information on safety equipment was provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669419 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 76-year-old woman driver suffered neck injuries in a rear-end crash on the Gowanus Expressway. Two sedans collided while traveling eastbound. The impact caused whiplash but no ejection. The driver remained conscious and was injured.

According to the police report, a rear-end collision occurred on the Gowanus Expressway involving two sedans traveling eastbound. The 76-year-old female driver of the lead vehicle sustained neck injuries described as whiplash and was conscious at the scene. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as a contributing factor, indicating the trailing vehicle did not maintain a safe distance. Both vehicles were going straight ahead at the time of impact. The lead vehicle was struck at the center back end, and the trailing vehicle impacted at the center front end. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4664354 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A repeat offender killed Xia Ying Chen, 66, in Bath Beach. Senator Gounardes called for tougher laws and real consequences for reckless drivers. He slammed weak enforcement. Streets remain deadly. Calls for redesign and accountability echo. The system failed again.

On September 19, 2023, after a deadly crash in Bath Beach, State Senator Andrew Gounardes demanded action. The driver, Faheem Shabazz, had a record of speeding violations. Gounardes, a safe streets advocate, said, 'That's really what this conversation should be about—how are we holding people accountable when they have violations to their record and zero consequences for it.' He supports lowering speed limits and tougher penalties but stressed that enforcement is lacking. Senator Iwen Chu urged the NYC DOT to study the area for safety upgrades, stating, 'We must recognize that our streets need to be designed with safety in mind.' The DOT is reviewing the intersection. The call is clear: repeat offenders face little consequence, and street design still puts pedestrians at risk.

• ‘A real damn shame’: After grandmother killed in Bath Beach crash, pol says reckless drivers must be held accountable, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-09-19

DOT stripped protected bike lanes from Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue. Cyclists now dodge cars and illegal parking. Elected officials and advocates demand action. DOT cites traffic, but danger grows. Pedestrians lose safe crossings. The agency stays silent. Streets stay deadly.

On September 18, 2023, a coalition of elected officials and advocates called out the Department of Transportation for removing protected bike lanes on Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue during construction. The matter, described as 'DOT continues to ignore dangers it created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave,' centers on DOT’s decision to replace bike lanes with a second car lane, violating a city law that requires temporary bike lanes during such work. Council Members Lincoln Restler, Alexa Aviles, Shahana Hanif, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and groups like Bike New York and Transportation Alternatives sent a letter demanding the bike lane’s return and physical barriers to stop illegal parking on pedestrian islands. The letter urges DOT to 'ensure curb lanes be preserved for safe cyclist passage' and to 'deploy quick-build physical elements' for pedestrian safety. DOT has not responded. Cyclists and pedestrians remain at risk.

• DOT Continues to Ignore Dangers it Created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

Council waits. DOT stalls. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program limps toward expiration. Thousands of reckless drivers dodge consequences. Few take the safety course. Council members call for answers, action, and stronger laws. Vulnerable New Yorkers remain exposed.

On September 18, 2023, the City Council reviewed the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program (DVAP), which is set to expire on October 26. The Transportation Committee, led by Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, pressed the Department of Transportation (DOT) for a final report on the program’s effectiveness. The bill required drivers with 15 speed-camera or five red-light tickets in a year to take a safety course or risk vehicle seizure. Council Member Shahana Hanif voiced disappointment, noting, 'We need to not only reauthorize this program, but strengthen it.' Despite over 34,000 drivers meeting the threshold in the last year, only about 1,200 took the course in three years. DOT has not explained the reporting delay or provided outcome data. The lack of enforcement leaves dangerous drivers on the road and vulnerable road users at risk.

• Council Needs Info from DOT So it Can Rescue (or Ignore) Fading ‘Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

A 19-year-old on an e-bike hit a turning diesel truck at 4th Avenue and 39th Street. Head trauma. Blood on the street. He died there, alone, under the lights. The crash was fast, brutal, final.

A 19-year-old e-bike rider died after colliding with a diesel truck making a right turn at the corner of 4th Avenue and 39th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the e-bike struck the truck at 2:30 a.m. The rider suffered fatal head trauma and died at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes cited are driver errors. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4662772 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 46-year-old woman driving a sedan suffered neck injuries in a collision with an SUV on 42 Street in Brooklyn. The SUV struck the sedan’s right side. The sedan driver was incoherent and complained of pain and nausea.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on 42 Street in Brooklyn involving a sedan and an SUV. The sedan, driven by a 46-year-old woman, was struck on the right side by the SUV traveling west. The sedan driver sustained neck injuries and was incoherent at the scene, complaining of pain and nausea. The report lists driver errors including 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The sedan driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The impact damaged the sedan’s center front end and the SUV’s right side doors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4662471 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Two sedans crashed head-on on the Gowanus Expressway. Both drivers were male and licensed. One driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The collision struck the right side doors of one vehicle and the front center of the other. Fatigue was a factor.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling westbound on the Gowanus Expressway collided. The impact hit the right side doors of one sedan and the center front end of the other. Both drivers were licensed men. One driver, age 31, was injured with neck pain and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists "Other Vehicular" and "Fatigued/Drowsy" as contributing factors, indicating driver fatigue played a role. The crash caused damage to the right front quarter panel of one vehicle and the center front end of the other. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4661846 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 75-year-old woman was struck by an SUV making a U-turn in Brooklyn. She suffered bruises and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The impact was to the vehicle's center front end. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 75-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2009 SUV, traveling east and making a U-turn, struck her outside an intersection in Brooklyn. The vehicle's center front end made contact, causing contusions and injuries to the pedestrian's knee, lower leg, and foot. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. The report lists the driver's pre-crash action as making a U-turn, which contributed to the collision. No other contributing factors or driver errors were specified. The pedestrian's actions were noted as 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but no blame is assigned. The driver was licensed in New York.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663098 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

MTA promised faster R trains in Brooklyn. Riders waited up to 16 minutes. Senator Gounardes called out the agency for misleading the public. Track work on another line delayed improvements. Riders left stranded. Trust broken. Transparency demanded.

On September 7, 2023, the MTA faced backlash for failing to deliver on its pledge of eight-minute weekday headways for the R train in southern Brooklyn. The issue, reported by State Senator Andrew Gounardes, surfaced after riders complained of waits as long as 16 minutes. The MTA had announced service upgrades, but later changed its press release, citing F line track work as the cause for delay—work unrelated to the R train. Gounardes, who fought for MTA funding in Albany, accused the agency of misrepresenting the improvements, saying, 'I’m shocked and frustrated that the MTA would misrepresent these service upgrades to the riding public.' Transit advocates like Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance echoed calls for honesty: 'Public transit shouldn’t be a rollercoaster of mismatched expectations.' The incident has strained relations between the MTA and its legislative supporters, highlighting the need for transparency and reliability in transit service.

• MTA ‘Bungles’ Increased R Train Service Promise, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-07