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

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 2025-11-04

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 2025-11-04

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 2025-11-04

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 2025-11-04

Jul 16 - A driver spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The car struck a woman on the curb. She died at the hospital. Police charged the driver with negligent homicide. The lot was left scarred. The city mourns another loss.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-16), Zachary Cando, 24, was 'doing the dangerous spinning trick' known as donuts in a Gateway Center parking lot when he lost control and hit Madisyn Ruiz, 21, who was sitting nearby. Ruiz died after being rushed to the hospital. Police charged Cando with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The article notes the car was 'badly dented in the front.' The crash highlights the risks of reckless driving in public spaces and the need for stronger deterrents in parking lots.

• Driver Kills Girlfriend Doing Donuts, New York Post, Published 2025-07-16

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 12 - Two men crossed Third Avenue. A BMW struck them. Blood marked the car. The driver fled. Police tracked him down. He faces manslaughter charges. Sunset Park mourns.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-12), a BMW driver hit and killed two men, ages 59 and 80, as they crossed Third Ave. at 52nd St. in Brooklyn. The driver, Juventino Anastacio Florentino, left the scene, leaving car parts behind. Police used license plate readers to find him. Florentino admitted, 'I had a six pack of Modelos and two drinks... It's my fault.' His blood alcohol content was 0.06%, below the legal limit. He faces manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges. The case highlights the deadly risk of hit-and-run crashes and the role of alcohol, even below legal thresholds.

• BMW Driver Kills Two in Brooklyn Hit-and-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-12

• 2 Men Killed in Hit-and-Run on Brooklyn Street Known for Deadly Crashes, The New York Times, Published 2025-07-11

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 2025-11-04

Jul 9 - A masked moped rider struck Zhou Xie, 90, in a Brooklyn crosswalk. The rider fled. Xie died from head trauma. Police search for the driver. The street stayed silent. The city counts another loss.

NY Daily News (2025-07-09) reports Zhou Xie, 90, was killed by a hit-and-run moped rider while crossing E. 14th St. at Avenue U. Xie was in the crosswalk when a blue moped, driven by a masked man, hit him and fled. A witness said, "He hit the guy and he left." Police are searching for surveillance footage to identify the rider. The article notes 56 people have died in city traffic so far in 2025. The crash highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians and the challenge of enforcing safe streets.

• Moped Rider Kills Elderly Pedestrian In Brooklyn, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-09

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

Jun 29 - An eight-year-old boy died after a Honda SUV struck him at Eastern Parkway and Albany Ave. He was dragged under the car. Blood pooled. His sister watched. The driver stayed. No arrest. The city investigates.

NY Daily News (2025-06-29) reports an 8-year-old boy was fatally struck by a 69-year-old Honda Pilot driver at Eastern Parkway and Albany Ave. in Brooklyn. The boy was crossing when hit; witnesses saw him dragged from under the SUV. The article quotes, "I saw the kid being dragged from underneath the car by a woman." The driver remained at the scene. No arrests were made. NYPD Collision Squad investigates. The crash highlights persistent dangers at city intersections and the lethal risk large vehicles pose to children.

• Child Killed By SUV In Crown Heights, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-29

Jun 28 - A sedan struck an e-bike on Bath Ave. The 63-year-old cyclist was ejected and injured. Center-front impact. No driver errors listed. Streets failed to protect the vulnerable.

A sedan and an e-bike collided on Bath Ave in Brooklyn. The 63-year-old e-bike rider was ejected and suffered a shoulder injury. According to the police report, both vehicles were going straight ahead and struck center front. The cyclist was listed as injured with a contusion. No specific driver errors were recorded; contributing factors were marked as 'Unspecified.' The crash left the cyclist exposed to harm. No helmet or signal use was listed as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824210 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 24 - Seventeen-year-old Jhoan Puga died after his moped struck a turning car in Midwood. His passenger was thrown and critically hurt. The crash left trauma and questions in its wake.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-24), Jhoan Puga, 17, was riding a gas moped north on East Eighth St. in Brooklyn when he collided with a Genesis G80 driven by a 71-year-old man making a left turn. The impact threw Puga and his passenger, causing severe injuries. The article states, "Jhoan later died at the hospital." The driver remained at the scene. No arrests have been made. The NYPD collision squad is investigating. The crash highlights risks at intersections and the vulnerability of moped riders in city traffic.

• Teen Killed, Passenger Hurt In Moped Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-24

Jun 20 - SUV reversed. Driver distracted. Pedestrian struck, hip and leg hurt. Whiplash. Brooklyn street, evening. System failed to shield the walker.

A station wagon/SUV backed into a 42-year-old pedestrian on W 3rd Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian suffered hip, leg, and whiplash injuries. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Backing Unsafely' contributed to the crash. The driver was licensed and wore a lap belt and harness. No vehicle damage was reported. The pedestrian was not in the roadway when struck. Systemic danger left the vulnerable exposed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822078 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 20 - A sedan merged into a cyclist on Kings Highway. The driver failed to yield. The cyclist suffered a bruised leg. Police cite inattention and failure to yield. The street stayed dangerous. The pain stayed real.

A sedan and a bike collided at 341 Kings Highway in Brooklyn. The 29-year-old cyclist was injured, suffering a contusion to his lower leg. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The sedan was merging when it struck the cyclist, who was traveling straight. Both the sedan driver and a passenger were involved, but only the cyclist was reported injured. The report highlights driver errors as key factors in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822090 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 19 - A moped slammed its front end on 24th Avenue. Two boys, ages 15 and 14, were hurt. The crash left one with an arm abrasion, the other with a bruised leg. Police cite driver inexperience and unsafe speed.

A moped crashed at 8880 24th Avenue in Brooklyn. Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 14, were injured. The 15-year-old driver suffered an abrasion to his arm. The 14-year-old passenger sustained a bruise to his leg. According to the police report, both 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Unsafe Speed' contributed to the crash. The moped's center front end took the impact. Neither boy used safety equipment. The report lists no other vehicles or road users involved. Systemic dangers remain for young riders on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822081 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 17 - SUV hit a woman crossing Bay Parkway with the signal. She took a blow to the leg. Police cite failure to yield and following too closely. The street turned dangerous in a flash.

A 30-year-old woman was injured when an SUV struck her as she crossed Bay Parkway at Benson Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the intersection when the driver, a 19-year-old man, failed to yield right-of-way and followed too closely. The woman suffered a contusion and injury to her lower leg. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The crash highlights the risks pedestrians face even when following traffic signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821563 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 16 - White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-16