Six Dead in Crown Heights—And Politicians Still Look Away

Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-01-24

Assembly bill A 1280 pushes for streets built for all. Dozens of lawmakers back the plan. The bill demands roads that protect walkers, cyclists, and riders. It calls for design, not luck, to keep people safe.

Assembly bill A 1280, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 13, 2023, the bill sits with the Assembly. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 70 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Kenny Burgos, and Catalina Cruz. Their action signals strong legislative momentum. The bill’s focus: force planners to build streets for people, not just cars. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear—systemic change for vulnerable road users. The bill’s progress can be tracked at the New York Assembly website.

• File A 1280, Open States, Published 2023-01-13

Assembly bill A 1280 pushes for streets built for all. Dozens of lawmakers back the plan. The bill demands roads that protect walkers, cyclists, and riders. It calls for design, not luck, to keep people safe.

Assembly bill A 1280, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 13, 2023, the bill sits with the Assembly. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 70 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Kenny Burgos, and Catalina Cruz. Their action signals strong legislative momentum. The bill’s focus: force planners to build streets for people, not just cars. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear—systemic change for vulnerable road users. The bill’s progress can be tracked at the New York Assembly website.

• File A 1280, Open States, Published 2023-01-13

A 44-year-old man was struck while working in the roadway on Crown Street in Brooklyn. The sedan, driven by a licensed female driver, made a left turn with limited view. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old male pedestrian was injured while working in the roadway on Crown Street, Brooklyn. The sedan, driven by a licensed female driver from New Jersey, was making a left turn when the collision occurred. The point of impact was the vehicle's left rear quarter panel. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor, indicating the driver’s impaired visibility played a role in the crash. The pedestrian sustained injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. No damage was reported to the vehicle. The pedestrian was not at an intersection at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4596438 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Senate bill S 343 seeks a clear, public safety score for cars. The DMV would post these ratings. Lawmakers push for sunlight on danger. Pedestrians face risk. The system aims to expose it.

Senate bill S 343 was proposed on January 4, 2023. It sits in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Creates a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles,' would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to post these ratings online. Primary sponsor Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Leroy Comrie, Michael Gianaris, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, Zellnor Myrie, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Luis R. Sepúlveda, and Toby Ann Stavisky. The measure targets transparency. It puts the danger of cars in plain sight. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 343, Open States, Published 2023-01-04

A police van sped down Eastern Parkway. The driver watched soccer on his phone. He struck Ronald Smith, dragged him 40 feet, and failed to help. The NYPD refused comment. Smith’s family demands the officers be fired and prosecuted. The city stays silent.

On April 7, 2022, NYPD Officers Orkhan Mamedov and Evan Siegel drove a police van on Eastern Parkway during a non-emergency prisoner transfer. Surveillance and body camera footage, released by Attorney General Letitia James on December 19, 2022, shows the van speeding, running a red light, and striking Ronald Smith, a pedestrian. The van dragged Smith 35-40 feet. The matter summary states: 'Video shows cop speeding in NYPD van—and may have been watching a soccer game before fatal crash.' Smith’s sister, Julie Floyd, and Justice Committee director Yul-san Liem condemned the officers’ actions and inaction. Floyd called for their firing and prosecution, saying, 'These officers drove an NYPD van so fast and recklessly... they dragged my brother... and had no regard for my brother’s life.' The NYPD declined to comment or disclose the officers’ status. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Video Shows Cop Speeding in NYPD Van — And May Have Been Watching a Soccer Game Before Fatal Crash, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-19

Two sedans collided on Albany Avenue. One driver, a 29-year-old woman, suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cited aggressive driving and following too closely. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling south on Albany Avenue collided. The driver of one sedan, a 29-year-old woman, was injured with back pain and whiplash. She was conscious, not ejected, and wore a lap belt and harness. The report lists aggressive driving and following too closely as contributing factors. The point of impact was the center front end of one vehicle and the right rear bumper of the other. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Police identified aggressive driving and failure to maintain a safe following distance as driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4589880 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A box truck struck a taxi on Eastern Parkway. The taxi’s right side doors took the impact. An 8-year-old girl in the taxi’s rear seat suffered bruises and leg injuries. Driver distraction was a factor in the crash.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling north on Eastern Parkway collided with a taxi traveling east. The point of impact was the taxi’s right side doors. An 8-year-old female passenger seated in the left rear of the taxi was injured, sustaining contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as a contributing factor. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead before the crash. The child was not ejected and suffered moderate injuries. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4588880 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 37-year-old woman driving an SUV was injured in a left-side collision with a sedan traveling west on Utica Avenue. The SUV driver suffered head injuries but remained conscious and restrained. Police cited driver inattention as a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, a 37-year-old female driver of a 2022 SUV traveling south on Utica Avenue was struck on the left side by a 2020 sedan traveling west. The SUV driver sustained head injuries and was conscious at the scene. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. The SUV driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. The sedan impacted the center front end of the vehicle. No ejections occurred. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction leading to side-impact collisions in urban settings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4586382 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Three SUVs crashed on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn late at night. Two male drivers suffered whiplash and head and back injuries. Both were restrained and not ejected. Impact centered on front and back ends of vehicles. Shock reported in both drivers.

According to the police report, three sport utility vehicles collided on Eastern Parkway near Kingston Avenue in Brooklyn. Two male drivers, ages 56 and 23, were injured with complaints of whiplash and head and back injuries. Both drivers were wearing lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected from their vehicles. The crash involved a rear-end impact and front-end impacts among the vehicles. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors identified. Both drivers were licensed in New York and traveling westbound. The collision caused center front and back end damage to the vehicles. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4584771 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

SUV slammed into parked cars on Brooklyn Avenue. Driver, 67, bruised his face. Police blame following too closely and distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists hurt. Metal and glass scattered. Streets stay dangerous.

According to the police report, a 67-year-old man driving an SUV southbound on Brooklyn Avenue struck several parked vehicles. The driver suffered a facial contusion but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash damaged multiple parked SUVs and sedans. The driver was not ejected and sustained moderate injury. The report does not mention any victim fault or other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4586748 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Two e-bikes slam together on Troy Avenue at night. One rider, fifty, thrown hard. Head hits pavement. Blood spills. Lacerations deep. No helmet. No lights. Failure to yield. Silence under the streetlamps.

Two e-bikes collided at speed on Troy Avenue after dark. One rider, age 50, was ejected and struck his head on the pavement, suffering severe lacerations. According to the police report, 'No lights. No yield.' The crash was caused by 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The injured rider wore no helmet, as noted in the data, but the primary factor was the failure to yield. The report lists no other injuries. The street was quiet. The only witness was an occupant, unhurt. The scene was blood and silence under the lamps.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4576034 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A pickup tore down Eastern Parkway. The driver sped, distracted, unlicensed. He struck a 56-year-old man standing in the road. The truck crushed him. The man died on the street. The city fell silent around the wreck.

A 56-year-old pedestrian was killed on Eastern Parkway near Schenectady Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a pickup truck traveling at unsafe speed struck the man head-on as he stood mid-road. The driver was unlicensed and distracted. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pickup’s center front end hit the pedestrian, causing fatal injuries to his entire body. No other injuries were specified for the occupants. The police report details the driver’s lack of license and failure to control speed or attention. The victim died at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4575837 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A sedan slammed into an SUV on Utica Avenue. Both drivers were distracted. The 75-year-old SUV driver suffered arm and shoulder injuries. Shock followed. System failed to protect her.

According to the police report, a 2020 Honda sedan and a 2021 Honda SUV collided on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn. The SUV driver, a 75-year-old woman, was injured in her shoulder and upper arm and experienced shock. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors for both drivers. The SUV driver was also noted as inexperienced. The sedan struck the SUV’s left front quarter panel, damaging the SUV’s center front end. The injured driver wore a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4572595 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Three men suffered back and leg injuries in a Brooklyn crash. Two sedans collided at President Street. Police cited unsafe speed as a factor. All drivers remained conscious and were not ejected. Injuries included whiplash and bruises.

According to the police report, a collision occurred in Brooklyn involving two sedans on President Street. Three male drivers, aged 20, 46, and 55, were injured with back and lower leg trauma. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor to the crash. None of the drivers were ejected from their vehicles. Injuries reported include whiplash and contusions. The crash involved impact to the left front quarter panel and right side doors of the vehicles. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The report focuses on driver error related to unsafe speed as the cause of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4572855 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A sedan struck the rear of a box truck on Empire Boulevard in Brooklyn. The sedan driver, a 36-year-old man, suffered back injuries but remained conscious. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. The truck showed no damage.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Empire Boulevard rear-ended a box truck also traveling west. The sedan driver, a 36-year-old man, was injured with back pain but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The box truck sustained no damage. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the center back end of the truck and the center front end of the sedan. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4570992 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 41-year-old woman was struck while crossing President Street with the signal. The driver, making a left turn, hit her with the left front bumper. She suffered bruises and full-body contusions. The driver was inattentive and distracted at impact.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing President Street with the signal. The driver, operating a 2014 Ford truck, was making a left turn when the collision occurred. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises over her entire body but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. There was no vehicle damage reported. The pedestrian was not at fault and was following traffic signals at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4570988 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 32-year-old woman was struck at an intersection on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. She was crossing with the signal when a vehicle hit her on the left front bumper. She suffered bruises and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot.

According to the police report, a 32-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Eastern Parkway at Troy Avenue in Brooklyn. She was crossing with the signal when a vehicle struck her on the left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in shock. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The vehicle type and driver details remain unspecified. The pedestrian was not ejected and no safety equipment was noted. The crash highlights the dangers pedestrians face even when crossing lawfully.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4571179 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 26-year-old woman crossing Rogers Avenue was struck by a sedan backing north. The driver failed to yield and was inattentive. The pedestrian suffered full-body injuries and shock, complaining of pain and nausea. The vehicle showed no damage.

According to the police report, a sedan backing unsafely on Rogers Avenue struck a 26-year-old female pedestrian crossing at an intersection. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her entire body and was in shock, complaining of pain and nausea. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The vehicle was parked before the crash and impacted the pedestrian at the center back end. Despite the collision, the sedan showed no damage. The pedestrian was not at fault; the driver’s unsafe backing and distraction caused the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4617094 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A motorbike crashed into a stopped SUV on Eastern Parkway. The unlicensed rider was thrown and suffered severe injuries. Police cite driver distraction and following too closely as causes.

According to the police report, a 19-year-old unlicensed female motorcyclist traveling east on Eastern Parkway struck the left rear bumper of a stopped SUV. The motorbike's front end hit the SUV, and the rider was partially ejected, suffering fractures, dislocations, and injuries to her entire body. The report lists driver inattention and following too closely as contributing factors. The SUV, driven by a woman, was stopped in traffic at the time. No helmet or signaling issues were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4566466 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07