Crown Heights South: Eastern Parkway Keeps Killing

• Brooklyn police pursuit ends with pedestrian struck, alleged teenage car thief caught, amny, Published 2025-09-14

Aug 31 - The driver of a taxi rear-ended a bicyclist at 1695 President St in Brooklyn. The 44-year-old rider fell and suffered an abrasion to his elbow. Police listed Following Too Closely and Driver Inattention/Distraction.

The driver of a taxi rear-ended a bicyclist traveling west on President Street in Brooklyn. The bicyclist, a 44-year-old man, was injured and remained conscious at the scene with an abrasion to his elbow/lower arm. According to the police report, the contributing factors were "Following Too Closely" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction." Police recorded those driver errors by the taxi driver. The taxi showed center front damage and the bicycle center back damage, consistent with a rear-end impact. The report lists the bicyclist as injured and conscious and records no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839360 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 25 - Two southbound sedans met hard on Franklin at Eastern Parkway. A rear-end hit. Three people hurt. Distraction named twice. The street took the blow. The cars wore it on their noses and tails.

Two southbound sedans collided on Franklin Ave at Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. The trailing car struck the lead car’s center back end, injuring the 47-year-old female driver and a 76-year-old rear passenger in the lead vehicle, and leaving one other person injured. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Driver Inattention/Distraction” for both drivers. The impact points confirm a rear-end crash: center front-end damage to the trailing sedan and center back-end damage to the lead sedan. Driver errors listed: Driver Inattention/Distraction. Safety equipment use is noted in the data but follows the driver errors in significance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837722 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 22 - Southbound BMW turned left off Eastern Parkway and struck an 80-year-old in the Franklin Avenue crosswalk. The man had the signal. The car’s nose took him down. Distraction and failure to yield at mid-day in Crown Heights.

An NJ-registered BMW sedan, traveling south and making a left turn at Eastern Parkway and Franklin Avenue, struck an 80-year-old pedestrian in the intersection. The man was crossing with the signal and was injured across his body. According to the police report, contributing factors were “Driver Inattention/Distraction” and “Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.” The vehicle’s center front end was the point of impact. The driver was licensed; the report lists no injuries to the motorist. The data places the crash in the 71st Precinct in Brooklyn. The pedestrian’s status was recorded as conscious at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837352 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 20 - An eastbound SUV blew a signal at Empire and Schenectady and struck a southbound cyclist. The rider went down hard. He suffered leg injuries. The driver kept going straight through control. Brooklyn pavement took the rest.

A southbound bicyclist and an eastbound SUV collided at Empire Blvd and Schenectady Ave in Brooklyn. The cyclist was injured with lower-leg trauma. According to the police report, “Traffic Control Disregarded” was a contributing factor, along with “Driver Inattention/Distraction.” The data list these driver errors for the SUV driver and also for the crash overall. The report identifies the SUV as a 2018 Toyota traveling east, striking while going straight. The bicyclist was going straight south. The listed factors show a driver ran a control and failed to pay attention, leading to impact. Safety equipment for the cyclist is marked “Unknown.”

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836349 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 4 - A northbound driver going straight hit a man in the Crown Street and Rogers Avenue intersection. Police recorded failure to yield and traffic control disregarded by the driver. The man suffered crush injuries to his face and stayed conscious.

A 43-year-old man was hurt while crossing at Crown Street and Rogers Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a northbound driver going straight hit him in the intersection. Police recorded Failure to Yield Right-of-Way and Traffic Control Disregarded by the driver as contributing factors. The man suffered crush injuries to his face and remained conscious at the scene. No details were provided about the vehicle type, registration, or the driver. The report places the man in the intersection at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833201 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 25 - A parked sedan's right-side door opened into a scooter rider on Kingston Avenue. The 35-year-old scooter driver suffered a contusion to his elbow and lower arm. Police cited passenger distraction.

According to the police report, a parked sedan and a standing scooter collided when the sedan's right-side door opened into the scooter's path on Kingston Avenue in Brooklyn. The scooter driver, a 35-year-old man, was treated for a contusion to his elbow/lower arm/hand and remained conscious. The report lists the sedan as parked and the scooter as going straight; the point of impact was the sedan's right side doors. Police list 'Passenger Distraction' as a contributing factor. No vehicle damage was reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830950 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 23 - Two men killed crossing Third Avenue. A driver sped through a red light, fled. Eighty hurt or dead since 2018. Residents rally. Promised fixes stalled. Danger remains. Children cross nine lanes to reach school.

Gothamist (2025-07-23) reports Sunset Park residents and officials demand safety upgrades on Third Avenue after a hit-and-run killed two men. Police say the driver "sped through a red light" and fled. Since 2018, drivers have killed or seriously injured 80 people on this two-mile stretch. A redesign with protected bike lanes was approved but stalled. State Sen. Gounardes criticized the city's response: "We should all be offended... the response... is a sign that says: 'be careful.'" The article highlights the need for enforcement and infrastructure, noting children must cross nine lanes daily.

• Sunset Park Demands Safer Third Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-23

Jul 22 - A 10-year-old boy lay unconscious after an SUV hit him on Eastern Parkway. The crash left him with head and crush injuries. Police list contributing factors as unspecified.

A 10-year-old pedestrian suffered head and crush injuries after being struck by a station wagon/SUV on Eastern Parkway at Albany Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child was crossing outside a signal or crosswalk when the westbound SUV hit him with its left front bumper. The boy was found unconscious at the scene. Police list all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No injuries were reported for the driver or vehicle occupants. The report does not specify any driver errors or violations.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829536 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 22 - Delivery workers get safe battery swaps. No more charging in cramped apartments. Fire risk drops. The city acts. Workers breathe easier. Streets grow safer for all.

On July 22, 2025, a new e-bike battery swap hub opened at Ebbets Field Apartments in Brooklyn. The project, supported by Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest and Council Member Crystal Hudson, brings seven PopWheels cabinets to the complex. Streetsblog NYC reports: 'Delivery workers who live in Brooklyn's Ebbets Field Apartments can now swap their dead e-bike batteries for charged ones without leaving their apartment complex.' Con Edison funded fire-safe infrastructure. The safety analyst notes this move cuts unsafe charging, supports delivery workers, and boosts safety for vulnerable road users. No council bill number or committee details apply.

• E-Bike Battery Swap Hub Backed by Con Edison Opens At Ebbets Field Apartments, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-22

Jul 22 - Delivery workers get safe battery swaps. No more charging in cramped apartments. Fire risk drops. The city acts. Workers breathe easier. Streets grow safer for all.

""I am proud to be here as a resident... We had a fire that blew out an apartment and brought a lot of fear to the building. For far too long families have lived in fear because they're not charging safely."" -- Phara Souffrant Forrest

On July 22, 2025, a new e-bike battery swap hub opened at Ebbets Field Apartments in Brooklyn. The project, supported by Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest and Council Member Crystal Hudson, brings seven PopWheels cabinets to the complex. Streetsblog NYC reports: 'Delivery workers who live in Brooklyn's Ebbets Field Apartments can now swap their dead e-bike batteries for charged ones without leaving their apartment complex.' Con Edison funded fire-safe infrastructure. The safety analyst notes this move cuts unsafe charging, supports delivery workers, and boosts safety for vulnerable road users. No council bill number or committee details apply.

• E-Bike Battery Swap Hub Backed by Con Edison Opens At Ebbets Field Apartments, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-22

Jul 18 - Cargo van struck Mayya Gil, 95, as she crossed Cropsey Avenue. She died. Her aide survived. Driver charged with failure to yield and due care. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

Gothamist (2025-07-18) reports a 95-year-old woman, Mayya Gil, died after a cargo van hit her and her home health aide while they crossed Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver, Thimothe Andre, was charged with two counts of failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. Police said Andre struck both victims while turning. Gil died at the hospital; her aide survived. The article notes, 'NYPD data shows 100 people have died in city traffic crashes so far this year.' The case highlights persistent risks for pedestrians and the consequences of driver inattention at city intersections.

• Brooklyn Pedestrian Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-18

Jul 17 - FEMA slashes $351 million. State sues. Flood defenses stall. Streets flood. Pedestrians and cyclists face rising water. Danger lingers. No fix yet.

On July 17, 2025, New York State sued to restore $351 million in FEMA funding for city flood projects. The Trump administration cut these grants, halting drainage upgrades and public housing protections. The matter summary: 'The state is now suing to restore $351 million in funding for projects aimed to upgrade drainage and protect public housing from flooding.' Attorney General Letitia James leads the suit. Mayor Eric Adams backs it. The funding loss threatens projects in Harlem, East Elmhurst, and NYCHA sites. While these upgrades could help street safety, the main goal is not active transportation. Vulnerable road users remain exposed.

• FEMA cuts threaten NYC’s ability to protect against future flash flooding, City & State NY, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 16 - A driver in an SUV hit a westbound cyclist at Brooklyn Ave and President St. The 42-year-old man was ejected and suffered whole-body injuries and an abrasion. Police recorded "Driver Inattention/Distraction." The SUV's center front struck the bike's right side.

An SUV driver traveling south on Brooklyn Ave collided with a westbound bicyclist at President St, throwing the rider from his bike. The cyclist, a 42-year-old man, was ejected, suffered injuries to his entire body and an abrasion, and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, "Driver Inattention/Distraction" contributed to the crash. The SUV's center front end struck the right side of the bicycle. Police data list the bicyclist as injured and ejected; no other injured persons are recorded in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828173 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 15 - A car spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The driver lost control. The machine struck Madison Ruiz as she sat by the curb. She died at the hospital. The driver faces criminal charges.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-15), Madison Ruiz, 21, was killed when Zachary Cando, 24, lost control of a Genesis G80 while 'doing donuts' in a Gateway Plaza parking lot. The article states Cando 'lost control' and struck Ruiz as she sat by the curb. Police charged Cando with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The incident highlights the risks of reckless driving in public spaces and raises questions about parking lot safety and enforcement.

• Driver Doing Donuts Kills Brooklyn Woman, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-15

Jul 12 - DoorDash must pay $16.75 million to New York delivery workers. The payout covers lost tips. Workers have until September 30, 2025, to claim their share. The settlement brings overdue cash, but street dangers remain.

"New York Attorney General Letitia James is calling on DoorDash delivery workers to file claims to receive their share of a $16.75 million settlement before the deadline on Sept. 30, 2025." -- Letitia James

On July 12, 2025, BKReader reported a $16.75 million settlement for DoorDash delivery workers in New York. No council bill number or committee is listed. Attorney General Letitia James called on workers to 'claim their share of a multimillion-dollar settlement.' The settlement follows an investigation into DoorDash's use of tips to subsidize wages. All funds go to eligible Dashers. BKReader urges prompt action before the September 30 deadline. While the settlement may improve financial well-being for delivery workers, it does not directly address street safety, infrastructure, or systemic risks faced by pedestrians and cyclists.

• DoorDash Delivery Workers Urged to Claim Money From $16.75 Million Settlement, BKReader, Published 2025-07-12

Jul 10 - A moped struck a 90-year-old man in Brooklyn. The driver fled. The man died at the hospital. Security video captured the impact. The street claimed another life.

CBS New York (2025-07-10) reports a 90-year-old man died after a moped hit-and-run in Brooklyn. Security footage 'shows the moment the man was struck.' The driver left the scene. The victim died at the hospital. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians and the ongoing danger of drivers who flee. No policy changes or arrests were reported.

• Elderly Man Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-10

Jul 9 - A moped struck a 90-year-old man crossing in Sheepshead Bay. The rider looked away, hit the man, paused, then fled. The victim lay motionless. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital. He died from his injuries.

ABC7 reported on July 9, 2025, that Zhuo Xie, 90, was killed crossing East 14th Street and Avenue U in Brooklyn. The article states, "a man riding a blue moped slammed into Xie and both men fell to the ground." Surveillance video showed the moped rider looking left, not ahead, before impact. The driver checked on Xie, then left the scene. Police said the moped had a green light, but the rider's inattention and failure to remain highlight systemic dangers for pedestrians. The incident underscores risks at intersections and the consequences of hit-and-run crashes.

• Moped Hits Elderly Pedestrian, Flees Scene, ABC7, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 1 - A judge paused city plans to cut a protected bike lane after children were struck crossing. The lane, built after five pedestrian crashes, stays for now. Streets wait. Danger lingers.

NY1 reported on July 1, 2025, that a judge halted the city's move to remove a three-block section of the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane. The city acted after 'incidents of children exiting school buses, crossing into the lane, and being hit by bikes.' The lane, stretching over two miles, was installed in 2024 following 'years of advocacy and five pedestrian incidents.' The hearing highlights ongoing conflict between street safety for cyclists and pedestrians, and the city's rapid policy shifts in response to crashes.

• Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Faces Review, NY1, Published 2025-07-01

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30