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

Oct 3 - A taxi traveling east struck a parked sedan on Avenue S in Brooklyn. The sedan’s driver, a 33-year-old man, suffered neck injuries and bruising. The impact damaged the sedan’s center back end. No ejections occurred. The driver was conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, a taxi moving east on Avenue S collided with a parked 2019 Ford sedan. The sedan’s driver, a 33-year-old man, was injured with neck contusions and bruises but remained conscious and was secured by a lap belt and harness. The point of impact was the sedan’s center back end. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not specify driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The taxi and an SUV traveling south were also involved, with damage noted on the taxi’s front and the SUV’s right rear quarter panel. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4667447 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 29 - A sedan and an SUV collided head-on at Bath Avenue and Bay 34 Street. Two occupants suffered bruises and contusions. Both drivers were licensed men. Injuries included chest and arm trauma. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage.

According to the police report, a 2015 Nissan sedan traveling east and a 2020 Toyota SUV traveling south collided at the intersection of Bath Avenue and Bay 34 Street in Brooklyn. The impact was centered on the front ends of both vehicles. Two occupants were injured: a 17-year-old female passenger in the sedan with chest contusions and a 39-year-old male driver with elbow and arm bruises. Both were conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses. The drivers were licensed men from New York. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors. Both vehicles sustained damage to their front ends, with the SUV's right front quarter panel affected.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4666337 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 25 - A 41-year-old woman was struck while crossing Bay 41 Street at a marked crosswalk in Brooklyn. She suffered bruises and injuries to her hip and upper leg. The pedestrian was conscious after the impact. No driver errors were reported.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Bay 41 Street at a marked crosswalk in Brooklyn. She was conscious and suffered contusions and injuries to her hip and upper leg. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The vehicle involved is unspecified, and no details about the driver or vehicle condition were provided. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal. The report does not indicate any safety equipment or other factors contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665375 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 24 - Council Member Marte and others push to exempt dollar vans from Manhattan congestion tolls. They argue the vans are vital for Asian communities. Without exemption, fares rise. Commutes get harder. The MTA has not taken a side.

On September 24, 2023, Council Member Christopher Marte joined eight other elected officials in urging the MTA to exempt dollar vans from the upcoming congestion pricing plan. The letter, signed by Marte and state legislators, was sent to the Traffic Mobility Review Board. The officials wrote, 'Commuter vans offer the Chinese communities in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn a much-needed service that is not being provided by other forms of public transportation: safe, language-accessible, and culturally competent means for people to access jobs, resources, and family.' They argue that tolling these vans—serving Flatbush Avenue, eastern Queens, and the city’s Chinatowns—would raise fares and cut off vital connections for Asian New Yorkers. Assembly Member Grace Lee said, 'They should be exempt from tolls under the congestion pricing plan.' The MTA has not taken a position on the exemption.

• Chinatown pols seek to exempt dollar vans from congestion pricing, amny.com, Published 2023-09-24

Sep 23 - A 56-year-old male driver suffered abdominal and pelvic injuries in a Brooklyn crash. The sedan, parked before impact, struck the driver. He remained conscious and was not ejected. No contributing driver errors were noted in the report.

According to the police report, a 56-year-old male driver was injured in a crash involving a 2017 Honda sedan in Brooklyn near 84th Street. The sedan was parked before the collision and impacted the driver's abdomen and pelvis, causing abrasions. The driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The injured person was not using any safety equipment. The crash occurred at 4:48 AM, and no other occupants were involved. The report does not specify the cause or additional details about the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4664526 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 12 - A Dodge truck turned left on Bath Avenue. The driver did not yield. A 66-year-old woman crossed with the signal. The truck struck her. Her head hit the pavement. She died there. The truck showed no damage. The street stayed quiet.

A 66-year-old woman was killed while crossing Bath Avenue near 25th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a Dodge truck turned left as the woman crossed with the signal. The driver did not see her. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The woman suffered fatal head injuries. The truck sustained no damage. The driver was licensed and remained at the scene. The crash ended a life on a clear day, leaving the intersection marked by loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4661771 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 6 - Advocates pressed DOT to ban all parking at T intersections. They called the current proposal weak. Parked cars block sightlines. Pedestrians, disabled people, and children pay the price. Speakers demanded daylighting at every intersection. DOT offered no timeline. The danger remains.

On September 6, 2023, advocates confronted the Department of Transportation (DOT) at a rules hearing over a city proposal to ban parking at curb cuts in T-shaped intersections. The proposal aims to close a 2009 loophole that lets drivers park in crosswalks at three-way junctions if unmarked or lacking signals. The matter summary reads: 'A city proposal to ban parking at curbs cuts in "T" intersections must go further by banning all parking at the edges of such intersections, advocates demanded.' Christine Serdjenian Yearwood, Jean Ryan, Rosamond Gianutsos, and Jackson Chabot spoke out, demanding a total ban and daylighting at all intersections. Advocates argue that parking at T intersections blocks visibility and endangers pedestrians, especially the disabled and children. DOT supports the rule change but gave no timeline. The city still overrides state law requiring 20 feet of clear space at crosswalks. The fight for safety continues.

• Advocates to DOT: End All Parking at T-Shaped Intersections, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-06

Sep 2 - SUV slammed into a 34-year-old man crossing Kings Highway. Driver was distracted. Pedestrian suffered neck abrasions. Impact was center front. Serious injury. Brooklyn street, early evening.

According to the police report, a 34-year-old male pedestrian was struck by an eastbound SUV while crossing Kings Highway in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and had no signal or crosswalk. He suffered neck abrasions and remained conscious at the scene. The SUV, a 2024 Dodge, hit him with its center front end. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other contributing factors were noted. The driver was licensed and driving straight ahead at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658881 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 28 - A 15-year-old e-scooter driver was injured in Brooklyn. The scooter struck the left front bumper of a vehicle making a right turn. The rider suffered a facial contusion. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as a factor.

According to the police report, a 15-year-old male e-scooter driver was injured in a collision on Shore Parkway, Brooklyn. The scooter was traveling west, going straight ahead, when it struck the left front bumper of a vehicle making a right turn eastbound. The rider sustained a facial contusion and was conscious at the scene. The report lists failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing driver error. The e-scooter sustained damage to its center front end. No other injuries or damages were reported. The rider was not ejected and was not using any safety equipment. The vehicle involved showed no damage. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver errors in yielding to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657775 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 26 - A 76-year-old man was struck at a Brooklyn intersection. He crossed against the signal and suffered a head abrasion. The sedan hit him with its left front bumper. The driver was going straight south on West 6 Street. The pedestrian was left in shock.

According to the police report, a 76-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing West 6 Street in Brooklyn against the signal. The sedan, driven by a licensed female driver traveling south, struck the pedestrian with its left front bumper. The pedestrian suffered a head abrasion and was in shock at the scene. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors for the crash. The pedestrian's action of crossing against the signal is noted, but no blame is assigned. The vehicle sustained damage to its left front quarter panel. No safety equipment or other factors were recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657195 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 25 - A 93-year-old woman driving a sedan on 86 Street in Brooklyn suffered arm abrasions after a front-end crash. Police cite passing too closely. No other people were hurt. The car was damaged at the front.

According to the police report, a 93-year-old woman driving east on 86 Street near Bay 35 Street in Brooklyn was injured when her sedan struck an obstacle, damaging the center front end. She suffered abrasions to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists "Passing Too Closely" as a contributing factor. No other vehicles, pedestrians, or passengers were involved or injured. The driver was properly restrained and remained conscious. The crash occurred while the vehicle was traveling straight ahead.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657116 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 19 - Two sedans collided on Bay Parkway in Brooklyn. Three people suffered arm and facial injuries. Police cite driver inattention and inexperience. Shock and pain followed the crash. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, a 2013 Porsche sedan making a right turn on Bay Parkway struck a 2023 BMW sedan traveling straight north. The Porsche was hit on its left side doors; the BMW took damage to its front center. Three occupants were injured: the Porsche driver, a left rear passenger, and the BMW front passenger. Injuries included upper arm and facial trauma, with all reporting pain, nausea, and shock. The report lists driver inattention and driver inexperience as contributing factors. All occupants wore seat belts and airbags deployed. No one was ejected. The crash underscores the risks posed by distracted and inexperienced drivers on Brooklyn streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4655216 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 4 - A bus struck a moped on 25 Avenue late at night. The moped driver was ejected and suffered head injuries. Police cited traffic control disregard as a factor. The rider was conscious but injured, with abrasions and a serious head wound.

According to the police report, a bus traveling north on 25 Avenue collided with a moped traveling east. The moped driver, a 35-year-old man, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained head injuries and abrasions. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating a failure to obey traffic signals or signs. The bus impacted the moped's right front quarter panel with its center front end. The moped driver was not wearing any safety equipment. No other driver errors were specified. The moped rider was conscious after the crash but seriously injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652776 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 27 - DOT moves to end a rule letting drivers park in unmarked crosswalks at T-intersections. Cars block ramps, endanger walkers, and hide danger. Advocates cheer. The city will hold a hearing. The change restores sight lines and puts people before parking.

On July 27, 2023, the Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed a rule change to close a 2009 loophole that allowed drivers to park in unmarked crosswalks at T-intersections. The proposal, not yet finalized, will be discussed at a virtual hearing in early September. The matter summary states: 'The city wants to reverse a 2009 policy that allows drivers to park in unmarked crosswalks at T-intersections, undoing a decade-and-a-half giveaway to drivers that blocked pedestrian access and made streets less safe.' Former Council Member Vincent Gentile pushed for the original exemption, arguing it would create parking and increase safety. DOT spokesperson Mona Bruno said, 'This proposed change will enhance safety and accessibility for pedestrians.' Disability and street safety advocates, including Jean Ryan, praised the move, saying the loophole blocked access for people with disabilities and endangered all pedestrians. The change will restore visibility at intersections, known as daylighting, and aligns city rules with state law requiring clear sight lines at crosswalks.

• City To Close Loophole That Allows Drivers to Park in Certain Crosswalks, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-27

Jul 18 - A moped and a bicycle collided head-on on West 11 Street in Brooklyn. The bicyclist, a 60-year-old woman, suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Both vehicles were traveling northeast. No vehicle damage was reported. The bicyclist remained conscious.

According to the police report, a moped and a bicycle collided at the center front ends while both were traveling straight ahead northeast on West 11 Street in Brooklyn. The bicyclist, a 60-year-old female driver, sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, including contusions and bruises. She was conscious and not ejected from her vehicle. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. Neither vehicle sustained damage. The bicyclist's safety equipment status is unknown. The crash resulted in injury severity level 3 for the bicyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4651406 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 17 - Two sedans crashed head-on on McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn. One driver, a 31-year-old man, suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited unsafe speed as a factor. Both vehicles were traveling east when the collision occurred.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn. Both vehicles were traveling east when the crash occurred. The 31-year-old male driver of one sedan was injured, sustaining knee and lower leg injuries and experiencing shock. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor to the crash. One driver was licensed in New York, while the other was unlicensed. The collision involved impact to the center back end of one vehicle and the center front end of the other. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The injured driver was not ejected and was the sole occupant of his vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646477 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 16 - A 34-year-old man was struck while crossing Avenue T with the signal. The driver made an improper right turn and failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He remained conscious.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was injured on Avenue T after a vehicle made a right turn improperly and failed to yield the right-of-way. The 34-year-old male pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. He sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists the driver errors as 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly.' The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645724 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 6 - A sedan making a left turn struck a northbound bicyclist on Bay Parkway. The cyclist suffered knee and lower leg bruises. The driver was distracted. The bike's left side was damaged. The cyclist remained conscious and was not ejected.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Bay Parkway made a left turn and collided with a northbound bicyclist. The bicyclist, a 33-year-old woman, sustained contusions and bruises to her knee and lower leg but was conscious and not ejected. The point of impact was the left side doors of the bike and the right rear quarter panel of the sedan. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643093 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 16 - An e-bike rider struck the left side doors of another vehicle on 86 Street in Brooklyn. The 42-year-old woman suffered shoulder and upper arm abrasions. Police cited following too closely as a contributing factor. She was conscious and not ejected.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old female e-bike rider traveling west on 86 Street collided with the left side doors of another vehicle. The rider was injured, sustaining abrasions to her shoulder and upper arm. She was conscious and riding without safety equipment. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor to the crash. The e-bike was a 2023 Fly wing model, and the rider held a permit license. No other driver errors or victim actions were noted. The collision caused damage to the left side doors of the other vehicle. The rider was not ejected and was riding or hanging on outside the vehicle at the time.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4638307 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 16 - An 11-year-old girl crossing Avenue S with the signal was struck by an SUV making a right turn. The impact hit the vehicle’s left front bumper. She suffered knee and lower leg injuries and was in shock at the scene.

According to the police report, an 11-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Avenue S with the signal. The driver, a licensed male in a 2010 SUV, was making a right turn when the vehicle’s left front bumper struck the pedestrian. The girl sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was reported to be in shock with complaints of pain or nausea. The report lists no specific contributing factors for the crash, but the driver’s action of making a right turn directly preceded the collision. The pedestrian was not at fault and was crossing legally. No helmet or signaling issues were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4638312 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19