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

Jan 26 - A 74-year-old woman suffered bruises and leg injuries after a sedan struck her while she was getting on or off a vehicle. The driver’s inattention caused the impact, leaving the pedestrian injured but conscious on Shore Parkway in Brooklyn.

According to the police report, a 74-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2022 Toyota sedan traveling east on Shore Parkway struck her on the right rear quarter panel. The pedestrian was getting on or off a vehicle other than a school bus at the time of the collision. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The sedan showed no vehicle damage, indicating the impact was likely at low speed. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle straight ahead. No pedestrian errors or contributing factors were noted in the report. This incident highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving to vulnerable road users in Brooklyn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788270 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 26 - A cargo van turned left on Cropsey Avenue. It struck Mayya Gil, 95, and her aide. Gil died. The aide survived. No charges for the driver. Another senior lost to city traffic. The street remains dangerous for the old and frail.

Gothamist (2025-01-26) reports that Mayya Gil, 95, was killed while crossing Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn with her home health aide. According to the NYPD, 'a man driving a cargo van struck both of them while making a left turn.' Gil died from her injuries; her aide was hospitalized. Police did not arrest or charge the driver. The article notes that Gil was the second elderly pedestrian killed in Brooklyn this year, and cites Transportation Alternatives: '46 senior pedestrians were killed in car crashes across the city last year.' The crash highlights the ongoing risk seniors face on city streets, especially at intersections where turning vehicles endanger those crossing on foot.

• Elderly Woman Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-01-26

Jan 24 - A Ford SUV swung left at Cropsey and 24th. Its bumper struck a 95-year-old woman’s head. She fell, blood pooling on cold pavement. She died in the street, winter sky above, another life ended by steel and speed.

At the intersection of Cropsey Avenue and 24th Avenue, a Ford SUV making a left turn struck a 95-year-old woman, according to the police report. The vehicle’s left front bumper hit the woman’s head, causing her to fall and suffer severe bleeding. She died at the scene. The police report notes the SUV was making a left turn when the impact occurred, and describes the pedestrian as being at the intersection. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are explicitly cited, but the narrative details the SUV’s movement and the fatal contact. The victim’s actions are described only as 'Other Actions in Roadway,' with no indication of contributing behavior. The focus remains on the lethal outcome of a turning vehicle meeting a vulnerable pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788054 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 23 - Council wants every cyclist in New York to wear a helmet. No helmet, pay a $50 fine. The bill targets riders not already covered by other laws. Debate now sits with the transportation committee.

Bill Int 1173-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced January 23, 2025. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams leads as primary sponsor, joined by Council Members Holden, Vernikov, Narcisse, Moya, Schulman, Louis, Hanks, Brannan, and Zhuang. The measure would fine cyclists up to $50 for riding without a helmet, unless already required by other laws. The bill awaits further action in committee.

• File Int 1173-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-23

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 1 - An 18-year-old pedestrian suffered upper arm injuries after an SUV made a left turn and struck her at an intersection. The driver’s inattention and disregard for traffic control led to the collision despite the pedestrian crossing lawfully.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Dahill Road near Avenue P in Brooklyn at 3:20 AM. The involved vehicle, a 2016 Honda SUV, was making a left turn when it struck an 18-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal. The pedestrian sustained a contusion and upper arm injury and was in shock. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The SUV’s point of impact was the center front end, and no vehicle damage was reported. The driver’s failure to observe traffic controls and maintain attention directly caused the collision, underscoring systemic dangers posed by distracted driving at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783938 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 1 - A white Audi struck Michael Foster on Caton Avenue. The car dragged him for blocks. The driver never stopped. Foster died in the street. The Audi vanished into the night. No arrests. The city’s danger stays.

NY Daily News reported on January 1, 2025, that Michael Foster, 64, was killed after a white Audi hit him on Caton Ave. near Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn. The driver, described as speeding, dragged Foster for half a mile before leaving him near Linden Blvd. and Nostrand Ave. The article quotes a witness: "I saw him at the stop light. He would go out to the cars and beg for change." The driver fled the scene and has not been caught. No arrests have been made. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians in city streets and the ongoing issue of hit-and-run drivers evading responsibility.

• Audi Driver Drags Man Half Mile, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-01

Dec 28 - A sedan making a U-turn on Stillwell Avenue struck a 38-year-old man crossing with the signal. The pedestrian suffered facial injuries and minor bleeding. Police cited the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the cause of the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Stillwell Avenue was making a U-turn when it struck a 38-year-old male pedestrian crossing the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian sustained facial injuries and was reported to be in shock with minor bleeding. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper, indicating the collision occurred during the U-turn maneuver. The report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, placing responsibility on the driver for not yielding to the pedestrian. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal is noted but not cited as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were reported. The crash highlights the dangers posed by drivers failing to yield during complex maneuvers like U-turns in busy intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782800 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 18 - A bus hit a stopped sedan on Stillwell Avenue. The sedan driver suffered whiplash and full-body trauma. Police cite driver illness as a factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

According to the police report, a bus traveling north on Stillwell Avenue struck the rear of a sedan that was stopped in traffic near Avenue S in Brooklyn. The sedan’s driver, a 46-year-old man, was injured with whiplash and trauma to his entire body. He remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Illness' as a contributing factor, indicating the bus driver was incapacitated. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the danger when a driver loses control due to sudden illness, leading to a rear-end collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779802 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 18 - Metal groaned on Nostrand Avenue. Two cars trapped, one stacked atop the other. A bus driver, a woman, a girl—hurt but alive. Emergency crews worked fast. The street bore the scars. The cause stayed hidden in the wreckage.

NY Daily News reported on December 18, 2024, that a multi-vehicle crash at Nostrand Ave. and Park Ave. in Brooklyn left three people injured. The article states, 'Three people were injured, including an MTA bus driver and a young girl, in a collision that pinned two cars between a box truck and a city bus.' Footage showed two vehicles sandwiched between the bus and truck, with one car stacked atop another. The injured included a 59-year-old MTA driver, a 33-year-old woman, and a 9-year-old girl. All were hospitalized in stable condition. The cause of the crash was not determined at the time of reporting. The incident highlights the risks at busy intersections and the dangers posed by large vehicles in dense urban traffic.

• Cars Crushed Between Bus And Truck, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-18

Dec 16 - A 61-year-old female bicyclist was injured in Brooklyn when an SUV making a left turn struck her head-on. The impact caused back injuries, leaving her conscious but hurt. Driver distraction was cited as a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at midnight on Avenue P in Brooklyn. A 61-year-old female bicyclist, traveling north and wearing a helmet, was struck at the center front end by a 2014 Honda SUV making a left turn eastbound. The bicyclist sustained back injuries and was conscious after the collision. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, highlighting the SUV driver's failure to yield or properly observe the bicyclist. The bicyclist was not ejected and was the sole occupant of her vehicle. The SUV driver was licensed in New York and the crash caused front-end damage to both vehicles. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779272 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 15 - A pick-up truck turning left struck two pedestrians crossing with the signal at a Brooklyn intersection. Both suffered internal injuries, including head and arm wounds. Driver inattention caused the crash, highlighting dangers at busy city crossings.

According to the police report, a 2011 Ford pick-up truck was making a left turn on W 6 St near Kings Hwy in Brooklyn at 7:17 p.m. when it struck two pedestrians crossing with the signal at the intersection. Both victims, a 67-year-old woman and a 12-year-old girl, were injured—sustaining head and arm injuries respectively—and remained conscious after the crash. The report explicitly cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the contributing factor for both injuries. The vehicle's center front end was the point of impact, indicating the truck hit the pedestrians directly during the turn. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. This collision underscores the systemic danger posed by distracted driving in urban environments, especially during complex maneuvers like left turns.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779095 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 3 - A driver hit a 47-year-old woman as she crossed Quentin Road with the signal. Her back was crushed. She lay conscious on the pavement while the traffic light blinked above, red then green. The street offered no protection. The car did not yield.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old woman was crossing at the intersection of Quentin Road and West 6th Street in Brooklyn when a vehicle struck her. The report states she was 'crossing with the signal.' The impact crushed her back, leaving her conscious but injured on the pavement as the traffic light cycled overhead. The police report does not list any contributing factors from the driver, but the narrative makes clear the driver failed to yield to a pedestrian who had the right of way. There is no mention of any pedestrian error or unsafe behavior; the victim was following the signal at the time of the crash. The incident underscores the persistent danger faced by people walking in city crosswalks, even when obeying traffic signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777168 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 27 - A driver struck three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, hit a vehicle with a pregnant woman, then crashed into an empty car. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her at the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist reported on November 27, 2024, that a New York City Housing Authority employee was arrested after a chaotic crash in Brooklyn. According to police, the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," then "drove away, dragging the person several feet and hitting another car with a pregnant woman inside." She struck a third, empty car before New York City Sheriffs arrested her nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but no serious injuries were reported. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights the dangers of hit-and-run behavior and the risks faced by vulnerable road users at busy intersections.

• Three-Car Brooklyn Crash Sparks Arrest, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

Nov 7 - An SUV making a left turn struck a westbound e-scooter on Kings Hwy in Brooklyn. The e-scooter driver, a 34-year-old man wearing a helmet, suffered a head contusion. Police cite driver inattention and inexperience as key factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Kings Hwy in Brooklyn at midnight. A 34-year-old male e-scooter driver traveling west was struck by a northbound SUV making a left turn. The point of impact was the SUV's left rear bumper hitting the e-scooter's center front end. The e-scooter driver sustained a head injury described as a contusion and was conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors for the e-scooter driver, but the primary driver error was the SUV driver's failure to yield while turning. The e-scooter driver was wearing a helmet, but this was not cited as a contributing factor. Vehicle damage was noted on the left rear bumper of the SUV and the left front bumper of the e-scooter.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770334 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 5 - A 37-year-old woman suffered knee and lower leg injuries while crossing Stillwell Avenue at an intersection with the signal. The crash left her conscious but bruised, highlighting dangers at signalized crossings in Brooklyn.

According to the police report, a 37-year-old female pedestrian was injured on Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn at 7:50 PM while crossing with the signal at an intersection. She sustained contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at level 3. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The report does not specify vehicle type or driver actions, nor does it list any contributing factors such as driver errors or pedestrian fault. The absence of identified driver errors in the data leaves the circumstances of the crash unclear, but the pedestrian was legally crossing with the signal. This incident underscores the persistent risks pedestrians face even when following crossing signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769512 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 21 - SUV struck sedan backing unsafely on 85th Street. Sedan driver, 63, suffered neck injury and shock. Impact left rear bumper. Unsafe backing listed as cause. Urban danger, no blame for victims.

According to the police report, an SUV struck a sedan that was backing unsafely on 85th Street in Brooklyn at 16:14. The sedan’s 63-year-old male driver suffered neck injuries and shock, reporting pain and nausea. The point of impact was the sedan’s left rear bumper. The SUV, driven by a licensed woman, was entering a parked position and showed no damage. The report lists "Backing Unsafely" as the contributing factor. No errors are cited for the SUV driver. No mention of helmet or signal use. The crash exposes the risks of unsafe backing in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765435 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 19 - A 12-year-old girl crossing against the signal was struck by an eastbound SUV on Bath Avenue in Brooklyn. The pedestrian suffered back injuries and shock. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as the primary factors in the collision.

According to the police report, a 12-year-old female pedestrian was injured after being struck by a 2010 Toyota SUV traveling eastbound on Bath Avenue in Brooklyn at 8:08 a.m. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal at the intersection when the collision occurred. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor to the crash, repeated twice to emphasize its role. The pedestrian sustained a back injury and was in shock, complaining of pain or nausea. The SUV showed no damage, and the driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The report does not attribute any fault or contributing factors to the pedestrian's actions beyond crossing against the signal, focusing on the driver's failure to maintain attention as the cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764651 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 18 - A 36-year-old man suffered head injuries and whiplash when his sedan collided with a pick-up truck on Avenue S. Police cite driver inexperience and distraction as causes. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, a crash took place on Avenue S in Brooklyn at 1:00 AM. A 36-year-old male sedan driver, wearing a lap belt, was injured with head trauma and whiplash but remained conscious. The sedan, traveling south, struck a westbound pick-up truck. The sedan’s right side doors and right front quarter panel took the hit, while the truck’s center front end was damaged. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. These driver errors led to the crash. No pedestrians were involved. The only injury reported was to the sedan driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765527 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 7 - A 60-year-old woman was injured crossing against the signal at a Brooklyn intersection. The SUV, making a right turn, struck her with its right front quarter panel. She suffered bruises and lower leg injuries but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 60-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Bay Parkway and Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn around 7:50 AM. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when a 2013 Lexus SUV, driven by a licensed female driver traveling south and making a right turn, struck her on the right front quarter panel. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity level of 3. The vehicle sustained no damage. The report lists the pedestrian's action of crossing against the signal as a contributing factor but does not cite any driver errors or other contributing factors. The pedestrian remained conscious after the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761448 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19