Gravesend Bleeds: Four Dead, Hundreds Hurt, and Still No Safe Streets

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

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4842759 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 5 - On Bay Pkwy at 83 St, a driver in an SUV hit a motorcycle’s rear. The rider and his passenger went down and were hurt. Police cited driver inexperience and following too closely.

A driver in an SUV rear-ended a motorcycle on Bay Pkwy at 83 St in Brooklyn. The 47-year-old rider and his 43-year-old passenger were ejected and injured. According to the police report, the motorcycle was making a left turn and the SUV was going straight. Police recorded the point of impact as the SUV’s center front to the motorcycle’s center back. Police recorded driver inexperience and following too closely. Two occupants of the SUV were listed with unspecified injuries as well.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840122 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 2 - A driver in a sedan hit a 52-year-old woman at Bay Pkwy and 86 St in Brooklyn. She bled from a leg wound. The driver was going straight south.

A driver in a sedan, traveling south on Bay Pkwy and going straight, hit a 52-year-old woman in the intersection at 86 St in Brooklyn. She suffered a lower-leg injury and bleeding. According to the police report, officers recorded 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver contributing factors were recorded in the data. The report lists the pedestrian’s action as 'Crossing Against Signal.' The point of impact was the center front end. The crash location is Bay Pkwy at 86 St. Crash ID 4839239.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839239 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 23 - A driver turning left and a driver going straight crashed at 86 St and Stillwell Ave in Brooklyn. One driver suffered a neck injury and complained of whiplash. Police listed improper lane use for the drivers.

Two SUVs collided at 86 St and Stillwell Ave in Brooklyn. The driver of an eastbound SUV was making a left turn. The driver of a southbound SUV was going straight. One driver, a 30-year-old man, suffered a neck injury and complained of whiplash. "According to the police report … the contributing factor was \"Passing or Lane Usage Improper.\"" The dataset records that improper lane use applies to both drivers. The southbound vehicle’s left front bumper struck the left rear quarter panel of the left-turning SUV, consistent with the listed driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836859 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 22 - A right-turning sedan struck a cyclist on Kings Highway at West 10th. The bike kept straight. The car cut in. The rider went down. Arm bruised. Police cite distraction and failure to yield.

A sedan turning right from Kings Highway at West 10th Street struck a bicyclist who was traveling straight east. The cyclist, a 58-year-old woman, sustained an arm contusion and was injured. According to the police report, contributing factors were “Driver Inattention/Distraction” and “Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.” These driver errors are listed for the motorist. The crash involved a sedan with front-end impact and a bicycle damaged at the front. The report notes the cyclist wore no safety equipment, but that detail follows the driver’s documented failures. No other injuries were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839122 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 14 - On the Belt Parkway exit, a taxi hit a scooter. The rider went down hard. A leg bruised. Lanes cut. Right-of-way ignored. Southbound metal met flesh. Sirens followed.

A taxi traveling straight hit a motorized scooter making a left near Belt Parkway Exit 5 Eastbound at Bay Parkway in Brooklyn. One scooter rider, a 47-year-old man, was injured with a leg contusion. According to the police report “Failure to Yield Right-of-Way, Unsafe Lane Changing” contributed to the crash. Person-level factors list Unsafe Lane Changing and Driver Inattention/Distraction. The taxi showed front-end damage; the scooter showed rear damage. The listed errors point to drivers moving without care and changing lanes into the rider’s path. No pedestrian or cyclist was reported hurt. The harm fell on the scooter user while larger vehicle force ruled the lane.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836554 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 1 - A Genesis sedan going south struck a Ford entering a parked position at 24th Avenue and 84th Street. A 47-year-old woman driving the Ford suffered neck pain and shock. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. Both cars damaged.

Two sedans collided on 24th Avenue at 84th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one driver was injured, suffering neck pain and shock and reporting pain or nausea. The Genesis was traveling south going straight. The Ford was entering a parked position when the impact occurred. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" and also notes "Following Too Closely" as contributing factors. The Ford sustained left-rear damage; the Genesis sustained right-front and center-front damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831997 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 1 - On 86th at Bay Parkway, a truck driver changed lanes and hit a sedan. Two men hurt. The front passenger suffered a head injury. The sedan driver injured his shoulder and arm.

On 86th Street at Bay Parkway in Brooklyn, the driver of a box truck changed lanes and hit a sedan. Two men were injured. The sedan’s front passenger, 47, suffered a head injury. The sedan driver, 34, injured his shoulder and upper arm. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling west on 86th Street, and the driver of the box truck changed lanes and struck the sedan at Bay Parkway. Police listed no driver errors or contributing factors in the report. The crash damaged both front quarter panels.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832053 - 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 sedan stopped in traffic on Kings Highway took a hit to its back end. The driver, a 55-year-old man, suffered back pain and shock. No contributing factors listed. Streets stayed dangerous and silent.

A crash on Kings Highway at West 10th Street in Brooklyn left a 55-year-old male driver injured. According to the police report, a sedan was stopped in traffic when it was struck at the center back end. The driver suffered back pain and shock. No contributing factors or driver errors were listed in the report. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not mention any helmet or signal use as a factor. The incident highlights the constant risk for those inside vehicles, even when stopped.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829763 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 18 - SUV reversed unsafely on 25th Avenue. Two people suffered whiplash. Metal struck metal. The street stayed hard and cold.

Two SUVs collided near 8664 25th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one SUV was backing unsafely when it struck another SUV. A 62-year-old male driver and a 74-year-old female passenger were injured, both suffering whiplash. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left two people hurt and the street marked by impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828732 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 18 - Two SUVs collided on Avenue S at Van Sicklen in Brooklyn. A 44-year-old driver suffered knee, lower-leg and foot injuries. Police recorded driver inattention/distraction. An air bag deployed; other occupants reported minor or no injuries.

According to the police report, two station wagons/SUVs collided at Avenue S and Van Sicklen Street in Brooklyn. One driver, age 44, was injured in the knee, lower leg and foot and complained of contusion and bruising. Police recorded 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling straight before the crash and both list left-front bumper as the point of impact. The report notes an air bag deployed and the injured driver had a lap belt and harness. The report also says the other driver, age 73, and three passengers, including a 67-year-old woman, were not seriously hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828735 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 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 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 sedan hit an e-bike at Bay Parkway and 86th Street. The e-bike rider, 23, was ejected and injured. Police cite driver inexperience and distraction as causes.

A sedan and an e-bike collided at Bay Parkway and 86th Street in Brooklyn. The 23-year-old e-bike rider was ejected and suffered a back contusion. According to the police report, 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The sedan's front end struck the e-bike. Both vehicles were traveling straight. No injuries were reported for the sedan occupants. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827526 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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