Kensington Bleeds: Four Dead, Hundreds Hurt, Leaders Stall

A sedan struck its own rear passenger on Dahill Road. The 28-year-old man suffered a serious head injury. The car’s front end was damaged. No outside factors listed. The system failed to protect those inside.

According to the police report, a 2016 Toyota sedan traveling south on Dahill Road in Brooklyn struck its right rear passenger. The passenger, a 28-year-old man, was seated in the rear and restrained with a lap belt and harness. He suffered a severe head injury and internal complaints but remained conscious. The vehicle’s center front end was damaged. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors such as failure to yield or speeding. No victim actions contributed to the crash. The event highlights a breakdown in occupant safety within the vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778600 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

A city worker crashed into three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, struck a car with a pregnant woman, and tried to flee. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her near the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist (2024-11-27) reports a New York City Housing Authority employee crashed into three vehicles near Gates Avenue and Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Brooklyn. Police say the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," dragged a person trying to get her information, and hit another car with a pregnant woman inside. She then struck a third, unoccupied vehicle before being arrested by city sheriffs nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights ongoing risks at busy intersections and underscores the consequences of fleeing after a crash.

• Driver Drags Person, Hits Pregnant Woman, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

Four SUVs crashed eastbound on Caton Ave. One driver suffered a concussion and head injury. Rear and front impacts. Police cite unspecified driver errors. The injured man was conscious, belted, and survived.

According to the police report, four SUVs collided while traveling east on Caton Ave near Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn. The crash caused rear and front-end damage across the vehicles. A 48-year-old male driver suffered a concussion and head injury. He was conscious and wearing a lap belt. The police list 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor for the crash, indicating driver errors without further detail. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report documents the impact points as center back end, right rear bumper, left rear quarter panel, and center front end. The crash left one driver injured amid a tangle of SUVs.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772399 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

A 9-year-old boy suffered head injuries and whiplash while restrained in a sedan’s rear seat during a multi-vehicle crash in Brooklyn. The collision involved a female driver making a left turn and several parked sedans struck from behind.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:30 AM near 701 Avenue C in Brooklyn. A 2016 Hyundai sedan, driven by a female with a learner's permit, was making a left turn when it collided with multiple parked sedans. The impact was centered on the front end of the turning vehicle and the rear ends of the parked vehicles. A 9-year-old male occupant in the right rear seat of the turning sedan was injured, sustaining head injuries and whiplash despite being secured with a lap belt and harness. The report cites no specific contributing factors but highlights the driver’s maneuver as the pre-crash action. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The crash underscores risks posed by driver errors during turning maneuvers in congested urban settings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769938 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 36-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured in a collision with an SUV traveling west on Caton Avenue. The impact struck the cyclist’s lower leg and foot, causing contusions and bruises. Driver distraction was cited as a factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:50 on Caton Avenue involving a 2017 Dodge SUV and a bicycle. The SUV was traveling west, going straight ahead, and struck the bicyclist from behind at the center front end. The bicyclist, a 36-year-old man, was ejected and sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, including contusions and bruises. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, highlighting the SUV driver's failure to maintain attention. The bicyclist was not wearing safety equipment, but no contributing factors related to the victim were cited. The SUV showed no damage, indicating a low-speed impact but with serious consequences for the vulnerable rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769425 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A distracted driver made a right turn on Caton Avenue, colliding with a sedan traveling straight. The impact injured two vehicle occupants with back injuries and whiplash. The crash reveals the dangers of driver inattention in busy Brooklyn streets.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Caton Avenue in Brooklyn at 14:28. A female driver, making a right turn, struck the left rear quarter panel of a sedan traveling straight ahead. The contributing factor cited was driver inattention/distraction. Two occupants in the struck sedan—a 21-year-old male driver and a 46-year-old male passenger—suffered back injuries and whiplash but were not ejected. Both were conscious and restrained with lap belts and airbags deployed. The report explicitly notes driver distraction as the cause, with no other contributing factors listed. The collision involved a third vehicle, a station wagon/SUV, which was starting in traffic but sustained no damage. This incident highlights how driver errors, specifically inattention during maneuvers like right turns, can cause serious injuries even without victim fault.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763431 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 20-year-old man was struck by an SUV making a left turn on Ocean Parkway. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal but suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Driver inattention caused the collision, leaving the victim injured and conscious.

According to the police report, a 20-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Ocean Parkway and Cortelyou Road in Brooklyn at 7:58 AM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when he was struck by a Honda SUV making a left turn traveling northwest. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity level of 3. The report cites driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors to the crash. There was no reported damage to the vehicle, and no other contributing factors were noted. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. This incident highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving even when pedestrians follow crossing signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762736 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill orders DOT to build 35 e-bike battery stations yearly. A quarter will sit curbside, letting riders lock up. Sponsors: Rivera, Nurse, Hanif. Streets may shift. City must post locations.

Int 1084-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced October 10, 2024. The bill reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to install e-bicycle battery stations.' Council Members Carlina Rivera (primary sponsor), Sandy Nurse, and Shahana K. Hanif back the measure. It mandates DOT to install at least 35 e-bike battery stations each year for five years, with at least 25% curbside for secure parking. DOT must report on station rollout and post locations online. The bill aims to reshape curb space and infrastructure for e-bike riders, but offers no direct safety analysis for vulnerable road users.

• File Int 1084-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-10-10

Council weighs Adams’s push to scrap parking mandates. Debate sharp. Some say mandates block homes, plazas, and safer streets. Progressive members back removal. Others resist in transit deserts. The fight shapes the future for housing, space, and city life.

On October 3, 2024, the City Council began reviewing Mayor Adams’s City of Yes zoning reform, focusing on the elimination of mandatory parking requirements for new developments. The proposal, under the Town Center Zoning plan, aims to boost small-scale, mixed-use housing. Council Members Shahana Hanif and Lincoln Restler voiced strong support, with Hanif stating, 'Parking mandates block housing, they block extra space for the folks living in communities, they block plazas, and the ability to live in a climate friendly city.' Restler called the policy vital for Brooklyn. Department of City Planning Director Dan Garodnick acknowledged the importance of removing parking mandates but noted the plan could proceed without it. The Council faces pushback from low-density, transit-poor areas. Progressive groups and experts argue that ending parking mandates is overdue and would reshape housing, public space, and climate policy citywide.

• Will Indicted Mayor Adams’s Bid to Eliminate Parking Mandates Survive Council Review?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-03

Council pushes Albany to let New York City ticket drivers who block bike lanes. Cameras would catch violators. Cyclists face deadly risk. Lawmakers demand action. Streets must protect the vulnerable.

Resolution 0574-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced September 26, 2024, it urges passage of S.5008A/A.803A. The measure calls for a 'bicycle lane safety program' using cameras to enforce bike lane rules. Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor), Lincoln Restler, and Erik D. Bottcher back the resolution. The text states: 'enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' The council demands Albany act. Cyclists die while drivers block lanes. The bill aims to hold motorists accountable and protect those most at risk.

• File Res 0574-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

A sedan traveling west struck a 9-year-old girl crossing Chester Avenue. The child suffered a head injury and was rendered unconscious. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. The impact hit the vehicle’s front center, damaging the right bumper.

According to the police report, a 2022 Hyundai sedan traveling west on Chester Avenue struck a 9-year-old female pedestrian crossing the street without a signal. The driver was cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction,' which was listed as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The impact occurred at the center front end of the vehicle, damaging the right front bumper. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and was unconscious at the scene, with a minor burn also noted. The report explicitly attributes the crash to the driver's failure to maintain attention, with no contributing factors assigned to the pedestrian's behavior. This incident highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in Brooklyn, where vulnerable road users bear the brunt of driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755892 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A northbound sedan collided with an e-bike traveling the same direction in Brooklyn. The cyclist was partially ejected, suffering knee and lower leg injuries. Impact damaged the left side doors of the e-bike and right front quarter panel of the sedan.

According to the police report, a 33-year-old male bicyclist wearing a helmet was riding an e-bike northbound on East 5 Street in Brooklyn at 5:30 p.m. A northbound sedan, also traveling straight ahead, struck the left side doors of the e-bike with its right front quarter panel. The cyclist was partially ejected and sustained contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The sedan driver was licensed in New York. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not assign fault to the cyclist. The collision damaged both vehicles on their respective impact points. Driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are not explicitly cited in the report, but the crash dynamics indicate a hazardous interaction between the sedan and e-bike traveling in the same direction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752917 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

A sedan turned right on Ditmas Avenue and hit a northbound cyclist. The rider took a blow to the face. Bruises marked the crash. The car’s front quarter crumpled. Turning cars endanger Brooklyn’s streets.

According to the police report, a 2023 Toyota sedan turned right from Ditmas Avenue and struck a northbound bicyclist going straight. The crash happened at 21:27 in Brooklyn. The sedan’s left front quarter panel hit the bike’s center front end. The 29-year-old cyclist suffered facial contusions and bruising but remained conscious. No specific driver errors were listed in the report, but the collision during a turning maneuver exposes the persistent risk to cyclists from turning vehicles. The cyclist wore no safety equipment. The sedan carried two people and was driven by a licensed male. This crash highlights the ongoing threat turning cars pose to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4744441 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 60-year-old male bus driver in Brooklyn lost consciousness while parked, causing a crash. He suffered severe whole-body injuries and was unconscious at the scene. The incident highlights driver incapacitation as a critical hazard in vehicle operation.

According to the police report, the crash occurred in Brooklyn near Fort Hamilton Parkway shortly after midnight. The 60-year-old male bus driver was parked when he lost consciousness, a contributing factor explicitly noted in the report along with a physical disability. The driver was not ejected and was wearing a lap belt. The bus sustained damage to its center front end and left front bumper. The driver suffered injuries to his entire body and was unconscious at the scene. The report identifies driver incapacitation due to loss of consciousness as the primary cause, underscoring a systemic danger when drivers become physically unable to control their vehicles. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved or injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742904 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV turned right on Cortelyou Road. Cyclist riding straight hit head-on. Man, 46, suffered arm abrasions. Evening crash. Metal against flesh. Streets failed the vulnerable again.

According to the police report, a 46-year-old male bicyclist was injured when an SUV making a right turn struck him head-on on Cortelyou Road near Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn at 17:56. The cyclist, traveling north, suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The SUV, a 2024 model, was driven by a licensed operator. Both vehicles sustained damage to their front ends. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for both parties. The crash highlights the danger of turning vehicles to cyclists proceeding straight. The bicyclist wore a helmet, as noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742587 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV slammed into a 21-year-old woman crossing Ocean Parkway. She took the hit full on, left with abrasions over her body. The street showed no mercy. She stayed conscious. System failed to shield her.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old female pedestrian was struck by a 2024 Nissan SUV while crossing Ocean Parkway, away from any crosswalk or signal. The SUV hit her at the center front end. She suffered abrasions over her entire body but remained conscious. The report lists unspecified contributing factors. The driver, a licensed woman from New York, was heading straight south at the time. No explicit driver errors are named, but the impact with a pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk exposes the persistent danger when drivers do not yield or remain vigilant. No victim actions were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738172 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04