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

Jan 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

Jan 6 - An ambulance and a sedan collided head-on at Bay Parkway. Three occupants suffered bruises and neck injuries. Drivers were distracted. All wore seat belts. Impact damaged front ends. No ejections reported. Injuries were moderate but left all conscious.

According to the police report, an ambulance traveling east and a sedan traveling north collided on Bay Parkway. The crash involved two drivers and one passenger, all injured with contusions and neck bruises. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the primary contributing factor. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. All occupants were restrained with lap belts and harnesses and remained conscious. The sedan driver, a 24-year-old female, and her front-seat passenger, a 36-year-old female, along with the ambulance driver, a 41-year-old male, suffered moderate injuries to their necks and arms. No ejections occurred. The collision highlights the dangers of distracted driving even among emergency vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4596586 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 4 - Two women crossed Avenue P with the signal. A 2017 SUV made a left turn, striking them at the intersection. Both suffered bruises and injuries to limbs. Glare and driver failure to yield right-of-way contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, a 2017 Toyota SUV was making a left turn on Avenue P when it struck two female pedestrians crossing with the signal. Both pedestrians, ages 48 and 42, were injured with contusions and trauma to their limbs, including knees, lower legs, feet, elbows, and hands. The report lists glare and the driver's failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. The impact occurred at the vehicle's left front bumper. Both pedestrians were conscious and suffered moderate injuries. The driver was licensed and traveling eastbound at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4595673 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 3 - A 23-year-old male driver suffered back injuries in a collision on Avenue S. The SUV hit the sedan’s right side doors. Unsafe speed and disregarding traffic control caused the crash. The driver was conscious and bruised but not ejected.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Avenue S involving a 2023 Jeep SUV and a 2023 Nissan sedan. The SUV, traveling east, struck the sedan on its right side doors. The 23-year-old male driver of the SUV sustained back injuries and contusions but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists unsafe speed and traffic control disregarded as contributing factors. The sedan driver was female and licensed in New York. The SUV’s front center end and the sedan’s right side doors were damaged. No other injuries or victims were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692449 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 31 - A 70-year-old man was struck while in the roadway in Brooklyn. The box truck was backing with limited view. The pedestrian suffered head injuries and minor bleeding. Shock was reported. No vehicle damage was noted.

According to the police report, a box truck backing east on West 9 Street in Brooklyn struck a 70-year-old male pedestrian who was in the roadway but not at an intersection. The pedestrian sustained head injuries and minor bleeding, and was in shock. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor, indicating the driver’s limited visibility while backing. The pedestrian’s location and action were noted as 'Other Actions in Roadway.' The truck showed no damage. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were mentioned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4595375 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 29 - A 41-year-old woman on an e-scooter was partially ejected and injured when a sedan made a right turn on West 8 Street. The scooter rider suffered shoulder and upper arm contusions. The sedan driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan turning right on West 8 Street collided with an e-scooter traveling south. The e-scooter driver, a 41-year-old woman, was partially ejected and sustained contusions to her shoulder and upper arm. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the contributing factor, attributed to the sedan driver. The e-scooter rider was conscious but injured. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. No safety equipment was noted for the scooter rider. The crash highlights the dangers when drivers fail to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4595359 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 23 - Two sedans turned right on Stillwell Avenue. Metal struck metal. The female driver took the hit. Her knee and leg bruised. Police blamed failure to yield. Both drivers stayed conscious. Brooklyn pavement bore the mark.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn as both drivers attempted right turns. The female driver, age 38, suffered contusions to her knee and lower leg. She was conscious and wore a lap belt and harness. The male driver operated a 2019 BMW. Impact struck the BMW’s right rear quarter panel and the Toyota’s left front bumper. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as the cause. No other contributing factors, such as helmet use or signaling, were listed. The crash left the female driver injured and both vehicles damaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4593142 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 20 - A 43-year-old man was struck by an SUV making a left turn on 26 Avenue. He was crossing with the signal. The pedestrian suffered bruises and injuries to his lower leg and foot. The driver was distracted at the time of impact.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing 26 Avenue with the signal. The driver of a 2016 Porsche SUV was making a left turn when the collision occurred. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact at the center front end. The driver was licensed and traveling westbound. No other factors such as helmet use or signaling by the pedestrian were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4599246 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 20 - A 50-year-old woman was struck while crossing Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn. The sedan was making a left turn and failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian suffered a hip and upper leg contusion but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn struck a 50-year-old female pedestrian crossing at an intersection. The driver was making a left turn and failed to yield right-of-way, contributing to the collision. The pedestrian was injured with contusions to her hip and upper leg but remained conscious. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary driver error. The vehicle showed no damage, and the driver was licensed in New York. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4592197 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 20 - An 18-year-old woman was struck while crossing Kings Highway with the signal. The sedan, driven by a licensed but inexperienced female driver making a left turn, hit her at the center front end. The pedestrian suffered bruises and lower leg injuries.

According to the police report, an 18-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Kings Highway and Mc Donald Avenue in Brooklyn. She was crossing with the signal when a sedan traveling east made a left turn and struck her at the center front end. The driver, a licensed female from New York, was cited for driver inexperience, which was listed twice as a contributing factor. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The vehicle showed no damage. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4592196 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 4 - A 60-year-old man crossing Avenue P with the signal was struck by a vehicle making a left turn. The driver failed to yield right-of-way and was inattentive. The pedestrian suffered a fractured and dislocated elbow and lower arm.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Avenue P and West 9 Street in Brooklyn. The 60-year-old man was crossing with the signal when a vehicle traveling east made a left turn and struck him. The report lists driver errors including Failure to Yield Right-of-Way and Driver Inattention/Distraction. The pedestrian sustained a fracture, dislocation, and distortion to his elbow and lower arm. No helmet or other safety equipment was noted. The crash highlights the dangers posed by drivers failing to yield and paying insufficient attention to pedestrians legally crossing the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4587380 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 3 - A Jeep veered left on Bath Avenue. A cyclist, 26, rode straight. Steel struck flesh. The rider flew, hit pavement, crushed. He lay conscious, broken, in the street. The Jeep showed no mark. Driver inattention listed as cause.

A collision on Bath Avenue involved a Jeep SUV and a 26-year-old cyclist. The cyclist, riding east, was struck when the Jeep veered left. According to the police report, 'A Jeep veered left. A bike came straight. The rider, 26, wore no helmet. Steel met flesh. He flew, hit pavement, crushed. Conscious, broken, he lay in the street. The Jeep bore no mark.' The cyclist suffered crush injuries to his entire body and was ejected from his bike. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but driver inattention is the only error cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4589000 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 1 - A 22-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck by a sedan making a right turn on 86 Street in Brooklyn. The driver was inattentive. The pedestrian suffered a hip and upper leg contusion but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing 86 Street at Avenue U in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2017 Nissan sedan, traveling east and making a right turn, struck her with its right front bumper. The driver was identified as female and licensed in New York. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained a contusion and bruise to her hip and upper leg but remained conscious. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4586332 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 30 - A dump truck rolled down Kings Highway. A young cyclist, riding straight, was caught beneath its weight. His hip shattered. He lay half-ejected, conscious, pinned under steel. The street fell silent. The truck rolled on. The system failed him.

A 24-year-old cyclist was struck and crushed by a dump truck on Kings Highway near West 9th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist was riding straight when the truck rolled on, trapping him beneath. He suffered severe hip injuries and was found partially ejected but conscious under the truck. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were cited in the data. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the absence of any identified driver error. The truck showed no damage, and the driver was licensed. The crash left the cyclist with crush injuries and exposed the danger heavy vehicles pose to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4588018 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 30 - A northbound SUV struck a parked sedan on Stillwell Avenue. The sedan’s left side doors took the impact. The sedan’s driver, a 56-year-old man, suffered a concussion and injuries to his entire body. Steering failure was cited as a cause.

According to the police report, a northbound SUV collided with a parked sedan on Stillwell Avenue. The point of impact was the sedan’s left side doors. The sedan’s driver, a 56-year-old man, was injured with a concussion and trauma to his entire body. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists steering failure as a contributing factor to the crash. No other driver errors were noted. The parked sedan had no occupants at the time of impact. The crash involved two SUVs and one sedan, with damage focused on the left front bumper of the SUVs and the left side doors of the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4586331 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 17 - E-scooter and SUV met at a turn. The e-scooter struck the SUV’s front. The rider, 25, suffered leg injuries and shock. Night on 86 Street. No helmet. Metal hit flesh. System failed to protect.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old male e-scooter driver making a right turn collided with the left front bumper of a Tesla SUV making a left turn on 86 Street. The e-scooter rider suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was reported to be in shock. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the e-scooter driver but does not cite any specific driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The e-scooter rider was not ejected and was not using any safety equipment. The Tesla SUV driver was licensed and traveling legally. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4582584 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 12 - A sedan struck a 31-year-old man crossing West 12 Street in a marked crosswalk. The driver failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on West 12 Street struck a pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk but not at an intersection. The pedestrian, a 31-year-old man, was injured with abrasions and trauma to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the contributing factor for the crash. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The pedestrian was conscious and not ejected. The sedan showed no damage. The driver’s failure to yield right-of-way caused the collision. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4586625 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 30 - A 1-year-old boy suffered facial abrasions after a sedan made a left turn and hit him at an intersection on Kings Highway. The child was crossing with the signal. The driver failed to yield and was inattentive, causing the collision.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Kings Highway made a left turn and struck a 1-year-old pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The toddler sustained facial abrasions and was conscious after the impact. The report lists driver errors as "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle. The child was not at fault and was following traffic signals when the collision occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4578962 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 30 - A 54-year-old woman suffered facial abrasions as a rear passenger in a 2019 SUV. The vehicle struck an object with its right front bumper. Driver inattention caused the crash. The passenger was conscious and not ejected.

According to the police report, a 2019 SUV traveling south on McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn collided due to driver inattention and distraction. The right front bumper of the vehicle was damaged on impact. A 54-year-old female rear passenger sustained facial abrasions and was injured but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. The crash caused moderate injury to the passenger, highlighting the dangers of distracted driving.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4578061 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 28 - An 85-year-old woman was struck by an eastbound SUV near 86th Street in Brooklyn. The driver, distracted and inexperienced, hit the pedestrian who was not in the roadway. The victim suffered bruises and leg injuries but remained conscious.

According to the police report, an 85-year-old female pedestrian was injured by a 2019 Honda SUV traveling east near 86th Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was not in the roadway when the collision occurred. The report lists driver inattention and driver inexperience as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The SUV showed no damage, and the driver was licensed in Pennsylvania. No other factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4577046 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19