Bensonhurst Bleeds: When Will City Hall Stop the Killing?
Bensonhurst: Jan 1, 2022 - Jun 4, 2025
The Toll in Bensonhurst
Four dead. Eleven left with injuries so severe they may never walk the same. In three years, Bensonhurst’s streets have not grown safer. The numbers do not flinch: 1,637 crashes since 2022. 899 people hurt. The youngest, a child. The oldest, a grandparent. Most never make the news. Their pain is private, but the violence is public.
No one is spared. In the last twelve months, 286 people were injured here. Five were left with life-changing wounds. Not one death, but the luck will not hold. Children, adults, elders—all struck, all counted. See the data.
Patterns of Harm
SUVs and cars do most of the damage. Two killed by SUVs. One by a bike. One by a moped. Trucks, sedans, e-bikes—they all take their share. The street does not care who you are. It only matters who is bigger, who is faster, who is protected by steel.
Crashes come in waves. A cyclist crushed on 62nd Street. A pedestrian struck crossing with the light. A moped rider ejected, never to get up again. The details change. The outcome does not.
Leadership: Action or Delay?
Local leaders have tools. The city can now lower speed limits to 20 mph. Cameras can catch speeders day and night. But in Bensonhurst, the silence is thick. No bold new redesigns. No flood of protected bike lanes. No public fight for the vulnerable. Every day without action is a day closer to the next siren.
What Comes Next
This is not fate. These are not accidents. They are the result of choices. Choices made by those in power, and by those who stay quiet. If you want safer streets, you must demand them.
Call your council member. Call the mayor. Call the DOT. Demand a 20 mph speed limit. Demand more cameras. Demand streets built for people, not just cars.
Do not wait for another body in the road. Act now.
Citations
▸ Citations
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813557, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-04
▸ Other Geographies
Bensonhurst Bensonhurst sits in Brooklyn, Precinct 62, District 43, AD 49, SD 17, Brooklyn CB11.
▸ See also
Traffic Safety Timeline for Bensonhurst
Elderly Driver Injured in Multi-SUV Collision▸An 87-year-old man driving a sedan was injured after striking multiple parked SUVs on 80 Street. He lost consciousness at the scene. The impact damaged the front of his vehicle and the rear quarters of the SUVs. No ejections reported.
According to the police report, an 87-year-old male driver lost consciousness while driving a sedan westbound on 80 Street. His vehicle collided with several parked SUVs, damaging their rear quarter panels and bumpers. The driver was injured and found unconscious but was not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as a contributing factor. There are no other specified driver errors or contributing factors noted. The driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness. The collision involved multiple parked SUVs, with damage concentrated on the front of the sedan and the rear of the parked vehicles.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497401,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-17
Sedan Strikes E-Bike on 18 Avenue▸A sedan pulling out of parking hit a northbound e-bike on 18 Avenue. The e-bike rider, a 32-year-old man, suffered abrasions and full-body injuries. The driver was distracted. The bike's front and sedan's bumper took the impact.
According to the police report, a sedan starting from parking collided with an e-bike traveling north on 18 Avenue. The e-bike rider, a 32-year-old male driver, sustained abrasions and injuries to his entire body but was conscious and not ejected. The point of impact was the center front end of the bike and the left front bumper of the sedan. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The sedan driver was licensed and operating a 2014 Dodge vehicle. The e-bike rider was not using any safety equipment.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4493921,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-17
2Inexperienced Driver Crashes Sedan Into Parked Car▸Two men suffered injuries after a sedan driven by an inexperienced, unlicensed driver struck a parked vehicle on 21 Avenue in Brooklyn. Both occupants reported pain and nausea. The crash damaged the front center of the moving sedan and the left rear quarter of the parked car.
According to the police report, the crash occurred when a 38-year-old male driver, unlicensed and inexperienced, drove a 2013 Dodge sedan southbound on 21 Avenue and collided with a parked 2012 Honda sedan. The impact was to the center front end of the moving vehicle and the left rear quarter panel of the parked car. Both the driver and a 26-year-old male passenger were injured, experiencing pain and nausea and placed in shock. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim actions were noted. Both occupants wore lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497124,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-17
An 87-year-old man driving a sedan was injured after striking multiple parked SUVs on 80 Street. He lost consciousness at the scene. The impact damaged the front of his vehicle and the rear quarters of the SUVs. No ejections reported.
According to the police report, an 87-year-old male driver lost consciousness while driving a sedan westbound on 80 Street. His vehicle collided with several parked SUVs, damaging their rear quarter panels and bumpers. The driver was injured and found unconscious but was not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as a contributing factor. There are no other specified driver errors or contributing factors noted. The driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness. The collision involved multiple parked SUVs, with damage concentrated on the front of the sedan and the rear of the parked vehicles.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497401, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-17
Sedan Strikes E-Bike on 18 Avenue▸A sedan pulling out of parking hit a northbound e-bike on 18 Avenue. The e-bike rider, a 32-year-old man, suffered abrasions and full-body injuries. The driver was distracted. The bike's front and sedan's bumper took the impact.
According to the police report, a sedan starting from parking collided with an e-bike traveling north on 18 Avenue. The e-bike rider, a 32-year-old male driver, sustained abrasions and injuries to his entire body but was conscious and not ejected. The point of impact was the center front end of the bike and the left front bumper of the sedan. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The sedan driver was licensed and operating a 2014 Dodge vehicle. The e-bike rider was not using any safety equipment.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4493921,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-17
2Inexperienced Driver Crashes Sedan Into Parked Car▸Two men suffered injuries after a sedan driven by an inexperienced, unlicensed driver struck a parked vehicle on 21 Avenue in Brooklyn. Both occupants reported pain and nausea. The crash damaged the front center of the moving sedan and the left rear quarter of the parked car.
According to the police report, the crash occurred when a 38-year-old male driver, unlicensed and inexperienced, drove a 2013 Dodge sedan southbound on 21 Avenue and collided with a parked 2012 Honda sedan. The impact was to the center front end of the moving vehicle and the left rear quarter panel of the parked car. Both the driver and a 26-year-old male passenger were injured, experiencing pain and nausea and placed in shock. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim actions were noted. Both occupants wore lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497124,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-17
A sedan pulling out of parking hit a northbound e-bike on 18 Avenue. The e-bike rider, a 32-year-old man, suffered abrasions and full-body injuries. The driver was distracted. The bike's front and sedan's bumper took the impact.
According to the police report, a sedan starting from parking collided with an e-bike traveling north on 18 Avenue. The e-bike rider, a 32-year-old male driver, sustained abrasions and injuries to his entire body but was conscious and not ejected. The point of impact was the center front end of the bike and the left front bumper of the sedan. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The sedan driver was licensed and operating a 2014 Dodge vehicle. The e-bike rider was not using any safety equipment.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4493921, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-17
2Inexperienced Driver Crashes Sedan Into Parked Car▸Two men suffered injuries after a sedan driven by an inexperienced, unlicensed driver struck a parked vehicle on 21 Avenue in Brooklyn. Both occupants reported pain and nausea. The crash damaged the front center of the moving sedan and the left rear quarter of the parked car.
According to the police report, the crash occurred when a 38-year-old male driver, unlicensed and inexperienced, drove a 2013 Dodge sedan southbound on 21 Avenue and collided with a parked 2012 Honda sedan. The impact was to the center front end of the moving vehicle and the left rear quarter panel of the parked car. Both the driver and a 26-year-old male passenger were injured, experiencing pain and nausea and placed in shock. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim actions were noted. Both occupants wore lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497124,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-17
Two men suffered injuries after a sedan driven by an inexperienced, unlicensed driver struck a parked vehicle on 21 Avenue in Brooklyn. Both occupants reported pain and nausea. The crash damaged the front center of the moving sedan and the left rear quarter of the parked car.
According to the police report, the crash occurred when a 38-year-old male driver, unlicensed and inexperienced, drove a 2013 Dodge sedan southbound on 21 Avenue and collided with a parked 2012 Honda sedan. The impact was to the center front end of the moving vehicle and the left rear quarter panel of the parked car. Both the driver and a 26-year-old male passenger were injured, experiencing pain and nausea and placed in shock. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim actions were noted. Both occupants wore lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4497124, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-17