Bensonhurst crosswalks, broken bones, and the hours when the streets bite

• Brooklyn cop killed in hit-run recalled as ‘top of his class’ both at NYPD and in life, NY Daily News, Published 2025-09-03

Aug 14 - A southbound pickup hit a westbound cyclist at 21st Avenue and 64th Street in Brooklyn. The truck’s front end took damage. The rider was ejected and injured. Distraction and inexperience shadow the scene.

A GMC pickup traveling south on 21 Avenue struck a bicyclist heading west on 64 Street. The cyclist was ejected and suffered leg injuries. According to the police report, contributing factors were “Driver Inattention/Distraction” and “Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.” Driver Inexperience also appears in the data. The truck showed center front-end damage, consistent with impact. The bicyclist is listed as injured; the pickup driver is listed with unspecified injury. After those driver failures, the report notes the cyclist wore a helmet.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836008 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Aug 6 - A 76-year-old woman died on 18 Avenue in Brooklyn after a driver disregarded traffic control and struck her in a marked crosswalk, inflicting fatal head injuries.

A 76-year-old woman was killed while crossing 18 Avenue at 86 Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the driver disregarded traffic control. Police recorded "Traffic Control Disregarded" as the contributing factor. The pedestrian was in a marked crosswalk when the impact struck her head. She suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead. The report lists no other contributing factors. The vehicle is recorded as 'Standing S' and was traveling east. The report gives no further details about the driver. Police classified the victim's injury severity as fatal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833274 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Aug 3 - A driver in an SUV hit a 21-year-old man crossing 18th Avenue in Brooklyn. His leg broke. He went into shock. The driver kept straight. Police listed no cause for either party.

A driver in a Toyota SUV, traveling north on 18th Avenue near 8120 in Brooklyn, hit a 21-year-old man who was crossing. He suffered a fractured lower leg and shock. According to the police report, the driver was going straight and the point of impact was the center front end. Police listed 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor for both the driver and the pedestrian, and recorded no driver errors. The pedestrian was recorded as crossing away from an intersection. The SUV showed no damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832542 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Aug 3 - A man crossed Broadway. A driver hit him. The driver sped off. The man died on the street. Police hunt for the vehicle, possibly a garbage truck. The city’s roads claim another life.

NY Daily News (2025-08-03) reports a 47-year-old pedestrian was killed crossing Broadway at Suydam St. in Brooklyn. The driver, possibly operating a garbage truck, left the scene. Police said, "A driver struck and killed a 47-year-old pedestrian... then left the scene." The victim died before help arrived. The driver’s failure to remain highlights ongoing dangers for those on foot and the persistent issue of hit-and-runs in New York City.

• Driver Flees After Brooklyn Pedestrian Death, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-03

Aug 2 - A driver in a pickup turned right on Bay Ridge Parkway at 16th Avenue and hit a woman on an e-bike going straight. She suffered a leg bruise. Police recorded following too closely and improper lane use by the driver.

A driver in a pickup turned right from Bay Ridge Parkway at 16th Avenue in Brooklyn and hit a 43-year-old woman on an e-bike who was going straight east. She was injured with a contusion to the lower leg. The pickup was driven by a 48-year-old man. According to the police report, the driver was "following too closely" and engaged in "passing or lane usage improper." Police recorded these driver errors as contributing factors. Both were traveling east before the turn. The truck’s right front quarter panel and the bike’s front were marked as points of impact. The crash occurred in the 62nd Precinct.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832281 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 30 - A driver in a sedan made an unsafe lane change on Bay Parkway and hit a motorcyclist. The 40‑year‑old rider suffered a distorted lower‑leg fracture and dislocation. Police listed 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing.'

A driver in a sedan changed lanes and collided with a motorcycle on Bay Parkway at Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn. The motorcyclist, a 40‑year‑old man, suffered a distorted fracture and dislocation to the lower leg. According to the police report, contributing factors included 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing.' The injured rider's record also lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' Police recorded no injuries for the sedan occupant. The report notes the motorcycle's point of impact and lists unsafe lane changing as a driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831914 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 26 - A sedan hit a three-year-old girl in Brooklyn. She crossed with the signal. The car failed to yield. The child suffered leg injuries. Shock followed. The street stayed dangerous.

A three-year-old girl was hit by a sedan while crossing 81st Street at 17th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child was crossing with the signal when the driver failed to yield the right-of-way. The girl suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was in shock. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the driver or passenger. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians, especially children, at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831882 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 24 - Eighty dead or maimed on Third Avenue since 2018. Sunset Park stands up. Residents, officials, and advocates demand the city end delays. No fixes yet. Danger remains.

"The Third Avenue corridor has been "persistently dangerous," said Avilés. "We have the tools to majorly reduce this violence, but it's up to the mayor's office to use them."" -- Alexa Avilés

On July 24, 2025, Sunset Park residents, Council Member Alexa Avilés, Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, Senator Andrew Gounardes, and advocates rallied for urgent street safety fixes on Third Avenue. BKReader reports: 'Fatalities on Third Avenue...are preventable with safety upgrades.' The Department of Transportation's plan has stalled for two years. Avilés called the corridor 'persistently dangerous.' Gounardes said, 'We know how to fix it: safer street design.' No council bill or committee is listed. The event shows strong community demand, but no policy action has been taken. As of now, there is no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Sunset Park Urges City to Fast-Track Third Avenue Street Fixes, BKReader, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 23 - Two pedestrians killed. Advocates and local leaders demand action. City stalls. Third Avenue stays deadly. Anger and grief fill Sunset Park.

"I am here to stand with our community again, to call for real investment, to call for real earnest movement forward, and to really address some of the challenges, because there are real tensions with what this corridor is used for. What it takes is real political will and real capital investment." -- Alexa Avilés

On July 23, 2025, local politicians and advocates rallied at 60th Street and Third Avenue, Sunset Park. They condemned the Adams administration's delay of a DOT safety plan, approved by Community Board 7 in 2023, after a hit-and-run killed two pedestrians. Council Member Alexa Avilés called for real investment. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives called the delay 'unconscionable.' State Sen Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes demanded urgent redesign. The rally's matter: 'demanding the Adams administration implement traffic safety measures on Third Avenue.' Safety analysts note: public rallies like this can push systemic changes, making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

• After fatal hit-and-run, local pols and street safety advocates slam delay of Third Avenue safety plan, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-07-23

Jul 18 - The moped driver hit a 55-year-old woman at Bay Parkway and 66th Street in Brooklyn. She suffered a contusion to her upper arm and shoulder and remained conscious. Police recorded failure to yield and traffic-control disregard by the driver.

"According to the police report, the moped driver failed to yield the right-of-way and disregarded traffic controls." A 55-year-old woman was struck by the moped as a pedestrian at Bay Parkway near 66th Street in Brooklyn. She suffered a contusion to her upper arm and shoulder and remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. Police recorded the injury as a contusion (bruise). The moped showed no damage in the report; the incident is logged under collision ID 4829768.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829768 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 17 - Two men died crossing Third Avenue. A driver sped through a red. The city knew the danger. The mayor stalled safety plans. The street stays deadly. The toll mounts. The fix waits.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-17) reports Mayor Adams delayed a redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue, long known as hazardous. Last week, a speeding driver ran a red light, killing two pedestrians. The article quotes Adams, who once called Third Avenue 'extremely intimidating' and said it 'must be at the top of our list.' Despite this, his administration 'put the brakes on a potentially life-saving road redesign,' favoring business interests. Attorney Peter Beadle notes, 'they had a plan ready to go and then it was pulled back.' The city could face legal action for failing to act despite knowing the risks, echoing a 2017 state court ruling on municipal liability.

• Mayor Delays Third Avenue Safety Redesign, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 16 - A driver spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The car struck a woman on the curb. She died at the hospital. Police charged the driver with negligent homicide. The lot was left scarred. The city mourns another loss.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-16), Zachary Cando, 24, was 'doing the dangerous spinning trick' known as donuts in a Gateway Center parking lot when he lost control and hit Madisyn Ruiz, 21, who was sitting nearby. Ruiz died after being rushed to the hospital. Police charged Cando with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The article notes the car was 'badly dented in the front.' The crash highlights the risks of reckless driving in public spaces and the need for stronger deterrents in parking lots.

• Driver Kills Girlfriend Doing Donuts, New York Post, Published 2025-07-16

Jul 15 - The city plans to rip out protected bike lanes on Bedford Avenue. Cyclists vow legal action if injuries follow. Over 200 sign a pledge. The mayor moves ahead, ignoring proven safety gains.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-15) reports Brooklyn cyclists pledged to sue if the city removes protected bike lanes on Bedford Avenue and injuries result. Over 200 signed a pledge after Mayor Adams decided to strip three blocks of protection, despite city data showing the lanes made the street 'dramatically safer.' The move follows a court ruling allowing the change. City Hall claims the redesign addresses 'serious safety concerns.' Legal precedent (Turturro v. City of New York) could hold the city liable for knowingly making streets less safe. Advocates see the decision as political, not safety-driven.

• Cyclists Threaten Lawsuit Over Bedford Ave, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-15

Jul 11 - A car sped down Third Avenue. Two men, one with a cane, one with a cart, crossed. The driver did not brake. Both men died in the street. The car fled. Police made an arrest hours later.

ABC7 reported on July 11, 2025, that two men, aged 59 and 80, were killed by a speeding driver at Third Avenue and 52nd Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Surveillance showed the car "speeding southbound" and not braking before impact. The driver, Juventino Anastacio Florentino, was arrested and charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and leaving the scene. The victims, Kex Un Chen and Faqiu Lin, were walking to a food pantry. The crash highlights dangers for pedestrians and the deadly consequences of reckless driving.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Two In Sunset Park, ABC7, Published 2025-07-11

Jul 10 - City rips out Bedford Avenue bike lane. Cyclists lose safe passage. Judge sides with mayor. Injuries had dropped. Advocates warn: danger returns. Streets grow harsher for those outside cars.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-10) reports that Mayor Adams will remove a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue after a judge upheld the city’s decision. Advocates say this 'all but guarantees that there will be blood on Eric Adams's hands.' NYPD data showed injuries dropped after the lane’s installation. The city acted after complaints from local leaders. The lane sits on a 'Vision Zero Priority Corridor,' one of Brooklyn’s most dangerous streets. Cyclists and residents called the move political and warned it strips away proven safety. No driver errors cited, but the policy shift exposes vulnerable road users to renewed risk.

• Brooklyn Bike Lane Removal Sparks Outrage, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-10

Jul 9 - A judge cleared the city to strip protection from Bedford Avenue’s bike lane. Cyclists will ride exposed. Cars will pass inches away. The barrier falls. Risk rises.

NY1 reported on July 9, 2025, that a judge ruled the city may remove parking protection from part of Bedford Avenue’s bike lane. The article states, "The city can proceed with its controversial plan to convert part of a parking-protected bike lane...back into an unprotected one." The lawsuit, brought by Transportation Alternatives and local residents, challenged the city’s move. The decision highlights a policy shift: removing barriers that shield cyclists from traffic. Without protection, riders face direct exposure to moving vehicles, increasing systemic danger for vulnerable road users.

• Judge Allows Bedford Bike Lane Change, NY1, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 1 - Two SUVs crashed on 78th Street in Brooklyn. One driver suffered a head injury. Police cite traffic control ignored and driver distraction. Metal twisted. Streets failed the people inside.

Two station wagons collided on 78th Street near New Utrecht Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one driver, a 49-year-old man, suffered a head injury. The crash involved two licensed drivers, both men, each operating an SUV. Police list 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report notes both drivers wore lap belts and harnesses. The crash left one person injured and others shaken, underscoring the danger when drivers ignore signals and lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824488 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

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

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