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

Jul 6 - A GMC SUV struck a Ford sedan from behind on Belt Parkway. The sedan driver, a 38-year-old man, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles were traveling east. The sedan driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, a 2020 GMC SUV with two occupants rear-ended a 2020 Ford sedan driven by a 38-year-old man on Belt Parkway. The collision occurred at the left rear bumper of the SUV and the right front bumper of the sedan. The sedan driver was injured, sustaining neck pain and whiplash, but was conscious and not ejected. He was restrained by a lap belt and harness. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead eastbound. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors. The impact caused center back end damage to the SUV and center front end damage to the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4544244 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 25 - A 27-year-old female bicyclist was injured when an SUV made a right turn and hit her bike making a left turn. The impact caused bruising and injury to her knee and lower leg. The crash happened in Brooklyn on Stillwell Avenue.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old female bicyclist was injured on Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn when an SUV traveling south made a right turn and collided with her bike traveling north making a left turn. The point of impact was the center front end of the SUV and the bike was struck on an unspecified area. The bicyclist suffered contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors. The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected from her bike. The SUV was a 1999 Ford SUV registered in Virginia. No helmet or signaling information was provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4556418 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 18 - Two parked sedans collided on Quentin Road near midnight. A 72-year-old man suffered injuries and shock. Impact struck right side doors and front ends. No ejections. No driver errors listed. Streets stayed quiet, but not safe.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Quentin Road at 11:59 p.m. Both vehicles were parked before the crash. The impact struck the right front quarter panel of one sedan and the left front bumper of the other. A 72-year-old male occupant was injured and experienced shock. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. Damage focused on the right side doors and front ends. No one was ejected. No pedestrians were involved. No safety equipment use was reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4539596 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 18 - A 16-year-old boy died on Belt Parkway. His SUV hit another head-on at unsafe speed. He was thrown from the car. His head struck hard. Four teens and two adults were hurt. The crash left metal twisted, lives changed.

A deadly crash unfolded on Belt Parkway when a 16-year-old, driving an SUV at unsafe speed, struck another SUV head-on. According to the police report, 'A 16-year-old boy, unbelted and speeding, struck another SUV head-on. His body flew from the wreck. His head hit hard. The car crumpled. He died there, in the dark, alone.' The contributing factor listed is 'Unsafe Speed.' The teen driver was ejected and killed. Four other young passengers, ages 15 to 19, suffered injuries to the neck, chest, and arms. Two adult drivers were also involved, one sustaining an arm injury. The police report notes that some injured teens were not using safety equipment, but this is mentioned only after the primary cause: unsafe speed. The crash left one dead and several injured, all due to speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4538346 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 7 - A 27-year-old male driver suffered a bruised elbow and lower arm injury after a roof impact in Brooklyn. The sedan, traveling north, struck an unknown object or surface. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old male driver was injured when his 2004 sedan, traveling north on West 11 Street in Brooklyn, experienced a roof impact. The driver sustained contusions and bruises to his elbow and lower arm but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists unspecified contributing factors without identifying any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. Vehicle damage was limited to the roof, indicating an unusual point of impact. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4535102 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 2 - Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-06-02

May 30 - A taxi ran the light at Avenue P and West 1st. It struck a 65-year-old man crossing with the signal. His pelvis shattered. He died on the street. Two passengers and a driver suffered neck injuries. Parked cars and an SUV took the crash’s force.

A 65-year-old man was killed while crossing Avenue P at West 1st Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A 65-year-old man crossed with the light. A taxi struck him head-on. His pelvis shattered. He died where he fell.' The crash also injured a 2-year-old girl, a 29-year-old woman, and a 32-year-old man, all suffering neck pain. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating the taxi driver ignored the signal. Parked vehicles and an SUV were also struck. The police report makes no mention of helmet or signal use by the pedestrian. The data shows the deadly result of disregarding traffic control at a Brooklyn intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4532525 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 28 - E-bike slammed into a parked sedan on Kings Highway. Rider thrown, back bruised. Police cite failure to yield and unsafe speed. Sedan stood empty. Streets stayed hard.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old male e-bike rider heading west on Kings Highway struck the left side doors of a parked sedan at West 6 Street. The impact partially ejected the rider, leaving him conscious but with a back contusion. Police listed failure to yield right-of-way, unsafe speed, and passing too closely as driver errors. The e-bike rider was unlicensed. The sedan was parked and unoccupied at the time. No mention of helmet use or signaling appeared in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4532884 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 23 - Albany passed A 8936. Cities get more state cash if they build complete streets. Lawmakers want safer roads. The bill sailed through both chambers. Money now follows safety.

Bill A 8936, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' passed the Assembly on May 23, 2022, and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The bill boosts state funding for transportation projects when municipalities add complete street features. Assemblymember Fahy led as primary sponsor, joined by Hunter, Seawright, Woerner, and others. The Assembly and Senate both voted yes, with broad support. The law aims to push cities to design streets for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—by tying state dollars to safety upgrades.

• File A 8936, Open States, Published 2022-05-23

May 23 - Senate and Assembly passed S 1078. New drivers must now learn how to avoid hitting people on foot or bike. Law aims to cut crashes at the root—before drivers get the keys.

Bill S 1078, introduced in the Senate on April 27, 2021, requires pedestrian and bicyclist safety instruction in the drivers pre-licensing course. The bill moved through committee and passed the Senate and Assembly, with key votes on May 20, 2021, February 1, 2022, May 16, 2022, and May 23, 2022. The matter summary reads: 'Requires instruction in pedestrian and bicyclist safety as part of the drivers pre-licensing course.' Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, joined by Bailey, Biaggi, Brisport, Cleare, Comrie, and others. The measure targets driver ignorance, a root cause of deadly crashes, by putting vulnerable road users at the center of driver education.

• File S 1078, Open States, Published 2022-05-23

May 12 - A 21-year-old woman driving a sedan struck a parked SUV on West 6 Street in Brooklyn. The impact hit the SUV’s right rear quarter panel. The driver suffered knee and lower leg abrasions but remained conscious. Driver distraction was a factor.

According to the police report, a sedan driven by an unlicensed 21-year-old female collided with a parked SUV on West 6 Street in Brooklyn. The point of impact was the right rear quarter panel of the SUV and the left front bumper of the sedan. The driver, who was the sole occupant of the sedan, sustained abrasions to her knee and lower leg but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists Driver Inattention/Distraction as a contributing factor. The SUV was stationary at the time of the crash. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4527280 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 28 - A 40-year-old man was struck while crossing Stillwell Avenue with the signal. The driver, making a right turn, failed to yield and was inattentive. The pedestrian suffered internal injuries to his hip and upper leg. The SUV showed no damage.

According to the police report, a 40-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Stillwell Avenue and Avenue S in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a Ford SUV, traveling west and making a right turn, struck him with its right front bumper. The report lists driver errors as 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The pedestrian sustained internal injuries to his hip and upper leg but remained conscious. The vehicle sustained no damage. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4523279 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 24 - A motorcycle struck the right front bumper of an SUV making a left turn on Kings Highway in Brooklyn. The motorcyclist, a 29-year-old man, suffered knee and lower leg abrasions. The crash happened at night, injuring the rider but not ejecting him.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old male motorcyclist was injured when his motorcycle collided with the right front bumper of a station wagon/SUV making a left turn on Kings Highway in Brooklyn. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet and sustained abrasions to his knee and lower leg but was not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver did not yield to the motorcycle. The motorcyclist was traveling straight westbound, while the SUV was turning left eastbound. The crash caused damage to the front center of the motorcycle and the right front bumper of the SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4524116 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 24 - A sedan hit an 11-year-old boy on inline skates on Avenue T. The car’s left bumper struck him. He was ejected, leg torn open, in shock. The driver kept straight. No damage to the car. The boy wore no helmet or pads.

An 11-year-old boy on inline skates was struck by a southbound sedan on Avenue T. According to the police report, 'An 11-year-old boy on inline skates, no helmet, no pads, struck by a southbound sedan. Ejected. Leg torn open. In shock. The car’s left bumper hit him. The driver kept going straight. No damage to the car.' The boy was ejected and suffered severe leg lacerations and shock. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The child was not wearing a helmet or pads, as noted in the narrative, but this is mentioned only after the lack of identified driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4521628 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 21 - A 20-year-old on an e-bike slammed into a parked box truck on 86th Street. He flew from the seat. His head hit hard. He died at the scene. Another man on the bike was thrown, left with a broken leg. The street stayed silent.

A deadly crash unfolded on 86th Street. According to the police report, a 20-year-old man driving a G-Power e-bike collided with a parked box truck. He was ejected from the bike, struck his head, and died at the scene. Another man, age 35, riding on the outside of the e-bike, was also ejected and suffered a fractured leg. The box truck was unoccupied and parked at the time. The report lists no contributing driver errors for either vehicle. The police note the e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the absence of driver errors. No pedestrians were involved. The crash left one dead and one injured, underscoring the dangers faced by vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4520978 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 31 - A sedan traveling west collided with an eastbound SUV making a left turn on 86 Street in Brooklyn. The sedan driver, a 59-year-old man, suffered chest contusions and shock. Police cited driver inattention as a contributing factor.

According to the police report, a 2013 Kia sedan traveling west on 86 Street was struck on its right front bumper by a 2014 Lexus SUV making a left turn eastbound. The sedan's 59-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining chest contusions and shock. The driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The SUV's right rear quarter panel was damaged. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4515104 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 27 - A 20-year-old woman on an e-scooter was ejected and injured after an SUV made a right turn on Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn. The SUV struck her with its right front bumper. The rider suffered full-body injuries and shock.

According to the police report, a 20-year-old female e-scooter driver was injured when a 2021 SUV made a right turn on Cropsey Avenue and struck her. The impact occurred at the SUV's right front bumper and the e-scooter's center back end. The rider was ejected and sustained injuries to her entire body, resulting in shock. The report lists the SUV driver's errors as Failure to Yield Right-of-Way and Unsafe Speed. The e-scooter driver was not wearing any safety equipment. The crash highlights the dangers faced by vulnerable riders when drivers fail to yield and operate at unsafe speeds.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4514103 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 19 - Two SUVs collided on West 6 Street. The rear driver, a 44-year-old woman, suffered a neck contusion. Police cited following too closely and driver distraction. Both vehicles traveled north; the lead vehicle was slowing.

According to the police report, two SUVs traveling north on West 6 Street collided. The lead SUV was slowing or stopping when the following SUV struck its rear. The driver of the rear vehicle, a 44-year-old woman, was injured with a neck contusion. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The rear SUV sustained damage to its left front bumper, and the lead SUV had damage to its right rear bumper. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4511654 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 15 - A westbound SUV struck the rear of a sedan on Belt Parkway. The sedan’s left rear passenger, a child, suffered chest injuries and bruising. Driver distraction caused the crash. Both vehicles sustained front and rear damage.

According to the police report, a 2015 Toyota SUV traveling west on Belt Parkway rear-ended a westbound Honda sedan. The impact was at the center back end of the SUV and the center front end of the sedan. A child occupant in the sedan’s left rear seat was injured, sustaining chest contusions and bruises. The child was restrained in a child safety seat and remained conscious. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. No other driver errors or victim actions were noted. The crash caused damage to both vehicles’ front and rear ends.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4510604 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 11 - A 39-year-old man was hit crossing with the signal on 23 Avenue in Brooklyn. A sedan making a left turn struck him in the face. The driver failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian suffered contusions and bruises but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on 23 Avenue in Brooklyn made a left turn and struck a 39-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian sustained facial contusions and bruises and was conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle showed no damage, and the driver was licensed. The pedestrian was not at fault and was crossing legally. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4510260 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19