Prospect Heights Bleeds While City Hall Waits

Mar 29 - A car struck a mother and her two daughters in a Brooklyn crosswalk. All three died. A young boy fights for life. The driver’s license was suspended. The Audi hit another car, then pedestrians. Ocean Parkway’s danger is no secret.

According to ABC7 (published March 29, 2025), a 34-year-old woman and her two daughters, ages six and eight, were killed when an Audi, driven by Mariam Yarimi on a suspended license, rear-ended a Toyota Camry and then struck the family in a crosswalk on Ocean Parkway. A four-year-old boy remains in critical condition. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch called it 'a horrific tragedy caused by someone who shouldn't have been on the road.' The Audi went airborne after the collision. Residents described chronic speeding and red-light running on Ocean Parkway. Authorities are investigating whether speed or a red light violation contributed. No arrests have been made. The crash highlights persistent systemic dangers for pedestrians on city streets.

• Mother And Children Killed On Ocean Parkway, ABC7, Published 2025-03-29

Mar 23 - Luis Cruz stepped from his car. An e-bike delivery worker sped through a stop sign. The crash was sudden. Cruz died on the street. The rider stayed. The intersection has seen this before. The system pushes speed. The danger remains.

Gothamist reported on March 23, 2025, that Luis Cruz, 49, died after an e-bike delivery worker "sped through a stop sign" and struck him as he exited his double-parked car in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Witness Jack Collins said, "He died basically on the spot." The e-bike rider remained at the scene. No arrests were made. The article notes this intersection is known for frequent stop sign violations: "It's not a unicorn incident. It's happened a lot." The piece highlights systemic issues, including delivery app pressures and gaps in e-bike regulation. City data shows e-bikes account for less than 2% of traffic deaths, but the policy debate continues. Lawmakers have called for tighter rules, as delivery workers face incentives to rush.

• E-Bike Rider Runs Stop, Kills Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-23

Mar 14 - Two SUVs collided on Atlantic Avenue when one driver distractedly changed lanes. Both drivers were injured, suffering bruises and limb injuries. The crash highlights the dangers of driver inattention and unsafe lane changes in busy traffic corridors.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Atlantic Avenue involving two SUVs traveling eastbound. One driver was changing lanes while distracted, causing a collision with the other vehicle proceeding straight ahead. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the contributing factors. Both drivers were injured: the driver of the first SUV sustained contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot, while the front passenger in the second SUV suffered shoulder and upper arm bruises. Both occupants were conscious and restrained by lap belts and harnesses. The impact occurred at the right front bumper of the first vehicle and the left front bumper of the second. The data clearly points to driver errors—distraction and unsafe lane change—as the cause, with no indication of victim fault.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799595 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 14 - An e-bike rider suffered facial abrasions and shock after a collision caused by following too closely. The crash occurred on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. The rider was helmeted but still sustained injuries from the impact.

According to the police report, the crash happened at 11:45 AM on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. The injured party was a 46-year-old male bicyclist riding an e-bike southbound. The report cites 'Following Too Closely' as the primary contributing factor, indicating driver error. The bicyclist was helmeted but still suffered abrasions to the face and was in shock. The e-bike driver held a permit license from New York. There was no vehicle damage reported, and the point of impact was the right front quarter panel of an unspecified vehicle also traveling southbound. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior. This crash highlights the dangers posed by close following distances in mixed traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799556 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 8 - A driver out on bail smashed into a Toyota in Bushwick. The crash killed Hayden Wallace and injured three others. The driver fled, leaving chaos behind. Police tracked him for over a year. Charges stack up, but the loss remains.

NY Daily News (March 8, 2025) reports that Christopher Seabrook, 28, was arrested after a deadly hit-and-run in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Seabrook had been out on bail for a previous crash involving police. On January 8, 2024, he crashed into a Toyota, killing Hayden Wallace and injuring three others. Seabrook fled the scene, abandoning his vehicle. The article notes, "All accidents are useless but this one was even more useless because [Seabrook] had so many other offenses." Seabrook faces 23 charges, including manslaughter, leaving the scene, unlicensed driving, and speeding. The case highlights repeated driver offenses and questions about bail and enforcement. Police needed over a year to arrest Seabrook, who had a history of fleeing crashes and driving without a license.

• Repeat Offender Kills Passenger In Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-08

Mar 3 - A dump truck turned right on Withers Street. It struck a man crouched in the road. The driver fled. The man died at Elmhurst Hospital. Police are still investigating. Brooklyn’s streets claim more lives. The toll grows.

Gothamist reported on March 3, 2025, that a dump truck driver fatally struck a man in his 20s on Withers Street near Woodpoint Road in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The man was 'crouched in the street to pick up food' when the northbound truck turned right and hit him, according to NYPD officials. The driver, a 49-year-old man, left the scene. No arrests have been made. The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. The article notes this crash followed two other recent fatal collisions in Brooklyn. The incident underscores persistent dangers for pedestrians and ongoing issues with drivers leaving crash scenes. NYPD data shows at least 10 traffic deaths in Brooklyn so far this year, matching last year’s pace.

• Dump Truck Kills Pedestrian In Williamsburg, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-03

Mar 2 - A man sped through a stop sign in Brownsville. His Mercedes hit a school bus. His passenger died. He ran from the wreck in a taxi. Police found him later. The victim’s family mourns. The street remains unchanged.

NY Daily News reported on March 2, 2025, that Tyree Epps, 32, drove a Mercedes-Benz without a license, ran a stop sign on Van Sinderen Ave, and crashed into a school bus. The article states, “After the crash, Epps hopped in a taxi and took off, leaving his 26-year-old passenger, Imani Vance, in the front seat suffering severe head trauma.” Epps faces charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene, and unlicensed driving. The bus driver survived. The crash exposes ongoing risks from unlicensed, reckless drivers and the persistent danger at city intersections. The victim’s family is left to grieve and organize a funeral, while the intersection remains a site of loss.

• Unlicensed Driver Flees Fatal Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-02

Mar 1 - A Kia slammed into a Toyota on Stockholm Street. Hayden Wallace, 29, died. Two friends survived with critical wounds. The driver fled. Police arrested Christopher Seabrook. The crash left a new life cut short, a city shaken.

According to the NY Daily News (published March 1, 2025), Christopher Seabrook, 28, was arrested for the hit-and-run crash that killed Hayden Wallace, 29, in Bushwick on January 8, 2024. Seabrook allegedly crashed a Kia Sportage into a Toyota Yaris carrying Wallace and friends, then fled the scene on foot. Wallace died; two others were critically injured. The Toyota’s driver was also charged with driving without a license. Seabrook faces charges including manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and leaving the scene. The article quotes Wallace’s aunt: “He lived life to the fullest. He was only 29 years old and lit up every room he entered.” The case highlights the deadly consequences of reckless driving and fleeing crash scenes in New York City.

• Bushwick Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-01

Feb 28 - A drunk driver blasted through a red light at 72 mph. He struck Katherine Harris, killing her steps from home. The car crashed on. Blood alcohol twice the limit. The street became a crime scene. Lives shattered in seconds.

NY Daily News reported on February 28, 2025, that Erick Trujillo, 29, was sentenced to three to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. On April 16, 2023, Trujillo drove his Volvo at 72 mph—nearly triple the speed limit—through a red light at Atlantic Ave and Clinton Street in Brooklyn. He struck pedestrian Katherine Harris, 31, killing her instantly, then rear-ended another car and crashed into an outdoor dining shed. Trujillo's blood alcohol level was .17, more than twice the legal limit. The article quotes Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez: "This defendant made a disastrous decision when he got behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated." The case highlights the lethal consequences of impaired driving and excessive speed, underscoring systemic risks for pedestrians in New York City.

• Drunk Driver Speeds, Kills Pedestrian in Brooklyn, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-28

Feb 27 - Assembly bill A 6225 drops the speed for owner liability to seven miles over the limit. Drivers face penalties sooner. Carroll and Simone sponsor. Aimed at curbing reckless speed. Streets may get safer. No safety analyst note yet.

Assembly bill A 6225 was introduced on February 27, 2025, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Relates to reducing the speed for owner liability for failure of operator to comply with certain posted maximum speed limits,' lowers the threshold for owner liability to more than seven miles per hour over the posted limit. Assembly Members Robert C. Carroll (primary sponsor, District 44) and Tony Simone (co-sponsor, District 75) back the measure. The bill seeks to hold drivers accountable at lower speeds. No safety analyst note is available yet.

• File A 6225, Open States, Published 2025-02-27

Feb 27 - Delivery workers rallied against Hochul’s e-bike crackdown. Council weighs bills to license e-bikes, raise pay, and study conditions. DOT opposes registration. Advocates warn of criminalization. City Hall silent. Streets stay dangerous for those on foot and bike.

On February 27, 2025, the City Council considered three bills: Intro 606 (register and license all e-bikes), Intro 1133 (expand minimum wage, study delivery worker conditions), and Intro 1135 (set minimum pay for grocery delivery). Intro 606 faces opposition from DOT, which says, 'there is no evidence that registration improves safety.' The matter’s summary warns that Hochul’s plan would let NYPD enforce bike lane speed limits and reclassify heavy e-bikes as mopeds, requiring licenses and registration. Council members are split: Brad Lander supports regulation targeting app companies, not workers; Jessica Ramos and Zohran Mamdani call for better street design; Michael Blake urges targeted safety solutions and more infrastructure. Advocates like Ligia Guallpa say these measures would criminalize delivery workers and create a 'ticketing-to-deportation pipeline.' The Council press office did not comment. The debate exposes a city divided on how to protect its most vulnerable road users.

• Leadership Vacuum: Delivery Workers Oppose Hochul’s E-Bike Plan as Adams Goes AWOL, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-27

Feb 24 - A sedan driver distracted by inattention struck a 27-year-old e-scooter rider in Brooklyn. The rider was ejected and suffered a concussion and lower leg injuries. The crash occurred near 300 Flatbush Ave during the sedan’s slowing maneuver.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:25 near 300 Flatbush Ave in Brooklyn. A 27-year-old male e-scooter rider was injured after being struck by a 2019 sedan traveling south. The sedan driver was licensed but distracted, with 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' cited as a contributing factor. The sedan was slowing or stopping when the collision happened, impacting the left side doors of the sedan and the center front end of the e-scooter. The e-scooter rider was ejected and sustained a concussion and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The rider was conscious but injured. No safety equipment was reported on the rider. Vehicle damage was reported as none. The report emphasizes driver distraction as the primary cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the victim.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794812 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 19 - Trump killed congestion pricing. The MTA sued. Advocates warn: more cars, more crashes, dirtier air. Transit funding gutted. Disabled riders lose elevators. Streets grow deadlier. Politicians vow to fight. The city braces for gridlock and loss.

""Congestion pricing is working – and is critical for the investments we need to make in our public transit system. We need leadership that's not afraid to stand up for us, or stand up against Donald Trump."" -- Zellnor Myrie

On February 19, 2025, the Trump administration withdrew federal approval for New York City's congestion pricing program. U.S. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy cited burdens on working-class drivers and questioned the legality of using toll revenue for transit. The MTA immediately filed a lawsuit to challenge the move, arguing the program is settled law and already reduces congestion. State Senators Andrew Gounardes and Zellnor Myrie condemned the action, warning, 'Trump will be directly responsible for more traffic, more crashes, more polluted air, slower buses and less funding for our transit system.' The withdrawal aligns with New Jersey's opposition and threatens transit upgrades like elevators for elderly and disabled riders. Local officials and advocates say ending congestion pricing will harm vulnerable road users and worsen street danger.

• Trump Withdraws Federal Approval for Congestion Pricing, Blowing Hole in Transit Budget, as MTA Files Lawsuit, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-19

Feb 18 - A BMW X5 veered off Belt Parkway near Exit 14. The SUV struck a tree. Marcus Joseph, 41, died at the scene. No passengers. No bystanders hurt. The crash left only silence and wreckage on the Brooklyn road.

NY Daily News (2025-02-18) reports Marcus Joseph, 41, died after his BMW X5 spun out of control on the Belt Parkway near Exit 14 in Starrett City, Brooklyn. Police said the SUV 'skidded off the road and slammed into a tree.' Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The article does not mention weather or road conditions. The incident highlights the dangers of high-speed corridors like the Belt Parkway, where loss of control can prove fatal. No charges were filed. The report underscores the persistent risks for all road users on New York City highways.

• BMW Skids, Slams Tree On Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-18

Feb 18 - Senators move to guard bike lanes. Cameras will catch drivers who block or invade. The city’s cyclists and walkers get a shot at safer streets. No more hiding behind the wheel.

Senate bill S 5008, now in sponsorship, aims to launch a bicycle lane safety program in New York City. The bill, introduced February 18, 2025, sits in committee. Its summary reads: 'Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and/or protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal leads, joined by Jabari Brisport, Kristen Gonzalez, Liz Krueger, Jessica Ramos, and Julia Salazar. The bill targets drivers who block or misuse bike lanes, using cameras to enforce the rules. The move puts pressure on the city to protect cyclists and pedestrians from daily danger.

• File S 5008, Open States, Published 2025-02-18

Feb 15 - A pick-up truck struck a sedan from behind on Flatbush Ave in Brooklyn. The crash injured three male passengers in the sedan, all suffering neck injuries and whiplash. Driver distraction and following too closely caused the collision.

According to the police report, at 21:08 on Flatbush Ave in Brooklyn, a pick-up truck traveling north rear-ended a sedan also traveling north. The point of impact was the center back end of the sedan and the center front end of the truck. The truck driver was cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely.' The sedan carried four occupants; three male passengers aged 26, 34, and 51 were injured with neck injuries and complaints of whiplash. None of the injured passengers were ejected or wearing safety equipment. Vehicle damage was noted on the truck's front end but not on the sedan. The report highlights driver errors—distraction and tailgating—as the primary causes, with no contributing factors attributed to the passengers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793564 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 13 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Feb 2 - Transit advocates and officials rallied at Grand Central. They demanded Governor Hochul fill a $33 billion gap in the MTA capital plan. Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal called transit vital for the region. Advocates stressed accessibility and equity. The state’s budget leaves riders exposed.

On February 2, 2025, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal joined transit advocates at Grand Central Terminal to push for full funding of the MTA’s 2025-2029 capital plan. The rally targeted Governor Hochul’s $252 billion budget, which omits $33 billion needed for transit upgrades. The event, covered by amny.com, highlighted the matter: 'NYC transit advocates urge Hochul to fully fund MTA Capital Plan with guaranteed state budget revenue.' Hoylman-Sigal said, 'This is about the economic engine for the entire region.' Assembly Member Tony Simone and others demanded investment in transportation deserts and accessible stations. Advocates cited the MTA’s ADA settlement, noting only a quarter of stations are wheelchair-accessible, with the fewest in low-income areas. The rally underscored that without full funding, vulnerable riders—especially those with disabilities—face continued barriers and danger.

• NYC transit advocates urge Hochul to fully fund MTA Capital Plan with guaranteed state budget revenue, amny.com, Published 2025-02-02

Jan 31 - Two sedans collided on Atlantic Avenue shortly after midnight. One driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries, experiencing shock and pain. The crash involved a left-side impact and front-end damage. Police cited traffic control disregard as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:53 AM on Atlantic Avenue near Washington Avenue. Two sedans traveling south and west collided, with the southbound vehicle struck on its left side doors and the westbound vehicle impacted at its center front end. The driver of the southbound sedan, a 37-year-old male, was injured with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma and was reported to be in shock and complaining of pain or nausea. The police report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, indicating a failure to obey traffic signals or signs by at least one driver. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead prior to impact. No victim behaviors or pedestrian involvement were noted. The crash highlights driver error in traffic control compliance as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789456 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 26 - A cargo van turned left on Cropsey Avenue. It struck Mayya Gil, 95, and her aide. Gil died. The aide survived. No charges for the driver. Another senior lost to city traffic. The street remains dangerous for the old and frail.

Gothamist (2025-01-26) reports that Mayya Gil, 95, was killed while crossing Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn with her home health aide. According to the NYPD, 'a man driving a cargo van struck both of them while making a left turn.' Gil died from her injuries; her aide was hospitalized. Police did not arrest or charge the driver. The article notes that Gil was the second elderly pedestrian killed in Brooklyn this year, and cites Transportation Alternatives: '46 senior pedestrians were killed in car crashes across the city last year.' The crash highlights the ongoing risk seniors face on city streets, especially at intersections where turning vehicles endanger those crossing on foot.

• Elderly Woman Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-01-26