Third Avenue: Two Miles, Too Many Graves

Jun 6 - A sedan hit a 16-year-old girl in the crosswalk. She crossed with the signal. Her leg was bruised. The car’s bumper struck her. The driver was not hurt. Police list no clear cause.

A 16-year-old pedestrian was hit by a sedan while crossing 5th Avenue at 21st Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal at the intersection when the vehicle, making a right turn, struck her with its right front bumper. She suffered a contusion to her lower leg and remained conscious. The driver and another occupant were not injured. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are cited in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821955 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 6 - A 26-year-old cyclist was struck and injured by an SUV turning right on 4th Avenue at 52nd Street. The crash threw the cyclist from his bike. He suffered leg injuries. The SUV driver and passenger were not reported injured.

A crash on 4th Avenue at 52nd Street in Brooklyn left a 26-year-old cyclist injured. According to the police report, the cyclist was traveling north when a 2023 Toyota SUV, also heading north, made a right turn and struck him. The impact ejected the cyclist from his bike, causing abrasions and injuries to his lower leg and foot. The SUV's driver and a passenger, both 59-year-old men, were not reported injured. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The cyclist was not using any safety equipment, as noted in the report, but no helmet or signaling issues were listed as contributing factors. The data does not specify any driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818260 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 4 - A 19-year-old motorcyclist was ejected and hurt on 58th Street in Brooklyn. The crash left him with hip and internal injuries. He was conscious at the scene. The cause remains unspecified.

A 19-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected and injured while traveling north on 58th Street at 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the rider suffered hip and internal injuries but remained conscious after the crash. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or road users were involved. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. The impact and damage centered on the motorcycle's front end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818252 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 3 - Another joins Families for Safe Streets. Another life lost. The toll rises. Grief sharpens the call for change. Streets stay deadly. The city fails to shield its own. The group grows. The danger remains.

On June 3, 2025, Gersh Kuntzman issued an advocacy statement, reported by Streetsblog NYC. The statement reads, 'There's a new member of Families for Safe Streets, which is not good news.' Joe Jankoski, mourning Amanda Servedio, spoke out after her death by a recidivist speeder. The group’s ranks swell with each tragedy. No specific bill or committee is named in this event. Kuntzman’s statement underscores the relentless danger faced by pedestrians and cyclists. The safety analyst notes: the event describes a new member joining an advocacy group, which does not directly affect pedestrian or cyclist safety at the population level. The city’s streets remain perilous. The group’s growth is a grim measure of failure.

• Tuesday’s Headlines: Stop Super Speeders Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-03

May 31 - A pickup and a sedan crashed on 35th Street in Brooklyn. One driver suffered a neck injury. The crash came fast. Police cite unsafe speed. Metal twisted. Shock followed. Another occupant was hurt. The street bore the mark of impact.

A pickup truck and a sedan collided on 35th Street near 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash involved unsafe speed. One driver, a 40-year-old man, suffered a neck injury and was in shock. Another occupant was also injured. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The pickup was struck at the left rear bumper, while the sedan was damaged at the center front end. Airbags deployed in the pickup. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report does not specify further details about the sequence of events or additional injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816729 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 30 - Two sedans collided on the Gowanus Ramp. One driver, nineteen, suffered neck injuries. Police cite improper lane use and passing too closely. Metal scraped metal. The night air filled with the sound of impact. The system failed to protect.

Two sedans crashed on the Gowanus Ramp in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a nineteen-year-old driver suffered neck injuries described as whiplash. Another occupant, age thirty-four, had unspecified injuries. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors. Both vehicles were traveling north; one was going straight, the other making a left turn. The BMW sedan sustained damage to its right rear bumper. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the danger of improper lane changes and close passing. The police report makes no mention of helmet or signal use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816730 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 28 - Council bill pushes for discounted bike share rates for New Yorkers 65 and up. The move aims to open city streets to older riders. The measure sits with the Transportation Committee. No safety review yet.

Int 1288-2025 was introduced on May 28, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for seniors, defined as those 65 or older. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors.' Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, and Gutiérrez. The bill was re-referred to committee on June 4, 2025. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes a bill to cut bike share costs for New Yorkers over 65. The measure aims to open city cycling to more seniors. The committee now weighs its next move.

Bill Int 1288-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors,' would require the Department of Transportation to mandate lower bike share rates for those 65 and older. Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, Gutiérrez, and Restler. The bill was re-referred to committee June 4. The move aims to make cycling more accessible for older New Yorkers.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 26 - A driver struck Tiffany Cifuni after a fender-bender in Bedford-Stuyvesant. She was pregnant. The driver dragged her down a one-way street, crashed again, then fled. Cifuni’s family mourns. The street holds the mark of violence and loss.

NY Daily News reported on May 26, 2025, that Tiffany Cifuni, 32, was killed after a Chevy Trax rear-ended her on Van Buren St. in Brooklyn. Cifuni exited her vehicle to confront the driver, who then ran her over and dragged her down the street. The driver fled, crashing into two more vehicles before abandoning the car. The article quotes Cifuni’s husband: “I lost my whole family tonight.” Surveillance footage captured the confrontation and the fatal impact. The incident highlights the lethal risk of driver aggression and the dangers of hit-and-run crashes. The driver’s decision to flee and drive the wrong way down a one-way street escalated the harm, underscoring systemic failures in street safety and enforcement.

• Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-26

May 25 - A maroon Chevy struck a car from behind in Brooklyn. The woman inside stepped out. The driver ran her over and dragged her. She died in the street. The driver fled. Police search for answers.

CBS New York reported on May 25, 2025, that a woman was killed in Brooklyn after a maroon Chevy rear-ended her car. According to police, 'when she got out to approach the vehicle she was run over and dragged.' The driver did not remain at the scene. The incident highlights the lethal risk posed by drivers who flee after collisions. The NYPD is searching for the suspect. The case underscores ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users and the urgent need for stronger enforcement and street design to prevent such deaths.

• Woman Run Down After Brooklyn Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-05-25

May 24 - Two cars slammed together at 3rd Avenue and 50th Street. Metal twisted. Three men hurt. One bled. Two bruised. A baby and another man shaken. Police blamed other vehicular factors. The street stayed busy. The danger stayed real.

A station wagon SUV and a sedan collided at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and 50th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, three men were injured: a 40-year-old front passenger suffered minor bleeding, while both drivers, aged 26 and 38, sustained bruises. A 49-year-old man and an infant were also involved but their injuries were unspecified. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor for all involved. Both vehicles were traveling straight before impact, with the sedan striking the SUV’s right rear quarter panel. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. The crash left bodies hurt and the street marked by another violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815127 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 21 - Senate moves to clamp down on repeat speeders. Bill forces reckless drivers to install speed limiters. Lawmakers act after years of carnage. Streets remain perilous for walkers and riders until the law takes hold.

On May 21, 2025, the Senate Transportation Committee advanced bill S4045B, known as the Stop Super Speeders bill. The measure passed with just two 'no' votes out of 13. The bill requires speed-limiting devices in cars of drivers with six or more camera-issued speeding tickets in a year. Streetsblog NYC reports, 'A bill that would prevent the most-reckless drivers from speeding easily moved forward on Tuesday.' Senator Andrew Gounardes sponsors the bill, emphasizing it targets the most dangerous drivers. Assembly sponsor Emily Gallagher raised concerns about cost and judicial bias, but stressed that speeding endangers everyone. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins backs the bill's safety focus. According to safety analysts, restricting repeat speeders directly tackles a major threat to pedestrians and cyclists, likely reducing crashes and making streets safer citywide.

• ‘Stop Super Speeders’ Bill Advances in Senate Committee, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-21

May 16 - Two sedans crashed while turning on 60th Street in Brooklyn. One driver suffered a fractured arm. The police report lists no clear cause. Metal and bone broke. Streets stayed busy.

Two sedans collided while both were making right turns on 60th Street at 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one driver, a 44-year-old man, suffered a fractured and dislocated shoulder. Three other occupants had unspecified injuries. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors. Both vehicles sustained damage to their sides and front panels. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813297 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - A car struck Maurette Lafleur in the crosswalk. She had the signal. The driver sped through. Bones broke. She died on Rutland Road. The street stayed loud. Witnesses watched. The city’s crackdown missed the real threat.

Streetsblog NYC reported on May 16, 2025, that a 68-year-old woman, Maurette Lafleur, was killed by a driver while crossing Rutland Road at E. 95th Street in East Flatbush. Lafleur was in the crosswalk with the walk signal when the driver of a 2025 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 struck her. A witness told Streetsblog, "The lady spin around and sped through," and described hearing the impact. The article notes that police have not released the driver's name. The incident occurred as NYPD focused enforcement on electric bikes, while drivers continue to cause deadly harm. The tragedy highlights the ongoing danger to pedestrians and raises questions about city policy and street design.

• Driver Kills Senior In East Flatbush, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-16

May 16 - Senator Palumbo, once wary, now backs the Stop Super Speeders bill. The measure targets repeat speeders with court-ordered limiters. Twenty-one percent of fatal pedestrian crashes involve such drivers. Speed limiters cut deaths by over a third. Action, not talk.

On May 16, 2025, the New York State Senate debated the Stop Super Speeders bill (S4045/A2029), which requires speed-limiting devices for drivers with six or more speed-camera violations in a year. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes, aims to curb reckless driving. Initially, Sen. Anthony Palumbo (R-Suffolk) opposed the measure, citing concerns about government overreach and enforcement. He compared it to ignition locks for drunk drivers, which he supports. After discussion with Gounardes, Palumbo shifted, supporting the bill if it meets its goal. The bill’s summary states it targets repeat speeders with court orders and misdemeanor charges for non-compliance. Data shows 21 percent of fatal pedestrian crashes in NYC involve vehicles with six or more camera tickets in the prior year. Speed limiters have been shown to reduce traffic deaths by 37 percent. Palumbo now signals willingness to take strong action against reckless drivers.

• How One Anti-Gov’t Republican Signed onto a Street Safety Bill to Rein in Reckless Drivers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-16

May 16 - State Sen. Palumbo, once wary of government reach, now supports speed-limiting devices for repeat speeders. The bill targets drivers with six or more violations. Debate follows a fatal crash. Lawmakers clash, then unite. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

On May 16, 2025, State Sen. Anthony Palumbo, Republican from Suffolk, changed course on the Stop Super Speeders bill (S4045/A2029). The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes, would require speed-limiting devices in cars of drivers with six or more speed-camera violations in a year. Palumbo first called the measure 'government overreach,' preferring license suspensions. After debate and a detailed comparison to ignition locks for drunk drivers, Palumbo agreed to support the bill if it meets its goal. Gounardes explained, 'We mimicked the ignition lock process and procedure.' The bill gained momentum after a deadly crash. According to the safety analyst, the event text does not describe a specific policy or legislative action affecting pedestrians or cyclists, so no safety impact can be determined.

• How One Anti-Gov’t Republican Signed onto a Street Safety Bill to Rein in Reckless Drivers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-16

May 15 - A car struck Larry Maxwell, 72, on Sutter Avenue. The driver had just crashed into another vehicle and fled. Maxwell died at Brookdale Hospital. The driver did not stop. Police are still searching. No arrests. The street stayed quiet.

NY Daily News reported on May 15, 2025, that Larry Maxwell, 72, was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The article states, “An elderly man was mowed down and killed by a hit-and-run driver in Brooklyn on May 10, just seconds after the same driver smashed into a nearby vehicle.” The driver first collided with a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu, then continued on and struck Maxwell near Sutter Ave. and Osborn St. The Malibu’s occupants were uninjured and remained at the scene. The driver who killed Maxwell fled and remains unidentified. The NYPD Highway District collision investigation squad is investigating. No arrests have been made. The case highlights the lethal risk of fleeing drivers and the ongoing challenge of enforcement.

• Hit-And-Run Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-15

May 13 - Senate Republicans forced a vote on S533 to repeal congestion pricing. Democrats may let it advance with a hollow 'Aye Without Recommendation.' Meanwhile, the Idaho Stop bill, which could save cyclists’ lives, remains stalled. NYPD cracks down on riders. Cyclists keep dying.

On May 13, 2025, the Senate Transportation Committee considered S533, a bill to repeal congestion pricing, after a procedural motion by Sen. Jack Martins. Committee Chair Jeremy Cooney was compelled to place it on the agenda. Democrats may use 'Aye Without Recommendation' to let the bill advance without clear support. A watchdog coalition, including Reinvent Albany and Bike New York, called the bill 'contrary to notions of basic fairness.' The same day, activists lobbied for the Idaho Stop bill (S639/A7071), sponsored by Sen. Rachel May and Assembly Member Karen McMahon. The bill would let cyclists treat red lights as stop signs and stop signs as yield signs, a move proven to reduce injuries. Despite support, the bill remains blocked. NYPD continues harsh enforcement against cyclists, who make up a small share of city trips but receive a disproportionate number of tickets. Cyclist deaths keep rising.

• How the Sausage Gets Made: Republicans Force Meaningless Vote on Congestion Pricing Repeal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-13

May 12 - A sedan hit a 74-year-old man crossing 4th Avenue. The car’s front slammed into him. He suffered a head injury. Police cite failure to yield. The street stayed open. The danger remains.

A BMW sedan struck a 74-year-old man at the intersection of 4th Avenue and 37th Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was crossing when the car, making a left turn, hit him with its front end. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a head injury and was conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The driver was licensed and remained at the scene. The crash exposes the ongoing threat to pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812288 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 12 - Five killed. Forty badly hurt. Conduit Avenue runs fast and bare. No signals. No safe crossings. City now calls in neighbors. Promises change. Workshops open. Danger remains until streets change.

Gothamist reported on May 12, 2025, that the city will redesign Conduit Avenue, a three-mile stretch in Brooklyn and Queens where 'more than 40 serious injuries and five deaths' have occurred in five years. The corridor lacks basic pedestrian infrastructure and has 'long stretches without signalized crossings,' which encourages highway-speed driving through residential areas. The Department of Transportation is launching community workshops and an online feedback map to gather public input. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'Brooklyn and Queens Residents deserve a Conduit Boulevard that improves daily life, not a roadway that puts pedestrians and drivers at risk.' The redesign aims to address systemic dangers and create safer, more connected streets.

• City Plans Overhaul Of Conduit Corridor, Gothamist, Published 2025-05-12