Crash Count for Gravesend (South)
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 681
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 359
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 93
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 3
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 0
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Jul 24, 2025

Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in Gravesend (South)?

No One Dead—Yet: Gravesend’s Streets Are Waiting for Blood

Gravesend (South): Jan 1, 2022 - Jul 16, 2025

The Toll in Flesh and Bone

In Gravesend (South), the numbers do not bleed, but people do. Since January 2022, there have been 638 crashes. Three left victims with serious injuries. No one has been killed—yet. But 335 have been hurt. The old, the young, the ones just trying to cross the street. A 68-year-old man, incoherent and bleeding from the head, after a collision with an SUV. A 69-year-old cyclist, thrown and scraped, helmet cracked. A 19-year-old woman, her arm torn open after a left-turning SUV met her e-scooter. These are not numbers. These are lives, changed in a heartbeat.

The Machines That Hit

Cars and SUVs did most of the harm. Out of all pedestrian injuries, 53 came from cars and SUVs, 4 from trucks and buses, 1 from a bike, and 1 from a moped. The street is a gauntlet. The odds are not in your favor if you walk or ride.

What Leaders Do—And Don’t

Council Member Justin Brannan co-sponsored a bill to ban parking near crosswalks—a move to clear sightlines and save lives. But in Albany, Assembly Member Misha Novakhov voted against speed cameras in school zones. He also opposed the Stop Super Speeders bill, which would have forced repeat speeders to slow down. Assembly Member Michael Novakhov recently told Streetsblog he thinks the speed limit is too slow on Ocean Parkway. The street stays fast. The danger stays high.

The Cost of Delay

Every day without action is another day someone does not come home. “It’s devastating. It’s affecting everyone in our family, especially (Ruiz’s) mom. Maddy was her only daughter.” The grief is not abstract. It sits at the dinner table. It waits by the phone.

What Now

This is not fate. It is policy. Call your council member. Call your assembly member. Tell them: lower the speed, clear the crosswalks, stop the repeat offenders. Do not wait for the first death. The street is waiting.

Citations

Citations

Other Representatives

Misha Novakhov
Assembly Member Misha Novakhov
District 45
District Office:
1800 Sheepshead Bay Road, Brooklyn, NY 11235
Legislative Office:
Room 527, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
Justin Brannan
Council Member Justin Brannan
District 47
District Office:
1915 Mermaid Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11224
718-373-0954
Legislative Office:
250 Broadway, Suite 1826, New York, NY 10007
212-788-7363
Twitter: JustinBrannan
Jessica Scarcella-Spanton
State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton
District 23
District Office:
2875 W. 8th St. Unit #3, Brooklyn, NY 11224
Legislative Office:
Room 617, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247
Other Geographies

Gravesend (South) Gravesend (South) sits in Brooklyn, Precinct 60, District 47, AD 45, SD 23, Brooklyn CB13.

See also
Boroughs
City Council Districts
State_assembly_districts
State Senate Districts

Traffic Safety Timeline for Gravesend (South)

Man Dies After Fall Onto Subway Tracks

A man fell onto Prospect Park subway tracks during a fight. The train struck him. He died at the scene. Police questioned the other person. The platform became a place of sudden death.

NY Daily News (2025-07-30) reports a man died after falling onto the tracks at Prospect Park station during a fight. Police said, "As the fight escalated, he landed on the train tracks and was struck by an oncoming train." The victim suffered fatal head trauma. The other person involved was taken into custody for questioning. No charges were filed at the time. The article does not specify if the man fell or was pushed. The incident highlights the dangers of open subway platforms and the risks faced by riders in moments of conflict.


2
Motorcycle Ejection After Traffic Control Disregard

A motorcycle and sedan collided on Belt Parkway. The motorcycle driver was ejected and fractured his arm. A sedan passenger suffered a bruised shoulder. Police cite traffic control disregard.

A motorcycle and a sedan crashed on Belt Parkway at 26 Avenue in Brooklyn. The motorcycle driver, age 21, was ejected and suffered a fractured arm. A 30-year-old sedan passenger was bruised on the shoulder. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was a contributing factor. The motorcycle driver was unlicensed. No helmet use or turn signal issues were listed as factors. The sedan had two occupants. The crash left both vehicles damaged at the front and side. No fatalities were reported.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831065 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31
Sedan Strikes Cyclist on Shore Parkway

A sedan hit a cyclist on Shore Parkway. The crash left the cyclist bleeding and in shock. Police cite alcohol involvement. The driver turned right. The cyclist rode straight.

A sedan and a bicycle collided at Shore Parkway and Bay 44 Street in Brooklyn. The 35-year-old male cyclist suffered knee and foot injuries, with minor bleeding and shock. According to the police report, alcohol involvement was a contributing factor. The sedan was making a right turn when it struck the cyclist, who was traveling straight. No injuries were reported for the sedan’s occupants. The report lists no driver errors beyond alcohol involvement. The cyclist wore a helmet, as noted after the driver’s actions.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830616 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31
Child Hit Near Sheepshead Bay Playground

A car struck an 11-year-old boy by a Brooklyn playground. He survived. Police search for answers. The street stays dangerous.

ABC7 reported on July 19, 2025, that an 11-year-old boy was hit by a car near a playground on Bedford Avenue in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. Friday. The boy is in stable condition. Police are investigating the circumstances. The article states, "There is no word yet on how the accident happened." No details on driver actions or charges have been released. The incident highlights the ongoing risk to children near city streets and playgrounds.


Sedan Strikes Shoulder on Shore Parkway

A sedan making a right turn hit with force. The driver suffered a shoulder injury and shock. Police list the cause as unspecified. The crash left pain and questions on Shore Parkway.

A sedan traveling east on Shore Parkway, near Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn, was involved in a crash while making a right turn. The driver, a man, suffered a shoulder and upper arm injury and was in shock. According to the police report, the contributing factors were 'Unspecified.' The point of impact was the left front bumper. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No other injuries were reported. The crash left the driver with pain and nausea, but the report does not specify further details.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828760 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31
Elderly Driver Ejected in Avenue V Collision

A left turn on Avenue V ended in violence. An 89-year-old driver was ejected and injured. Police cite inattention and failure to yield. Metal struck flesh. The street stayed open.

An 89-year-old male driver was ejected and injured in a crash at 86th Street and Avenue V in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the driver suffered shoulder and upper arm abrasions. The crash involved two vehicles: one making a left turn, the other traveling straight. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The injured driver was conscious at the scene. No safety equipment was used. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported hurt.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828784 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31
Driver Kills Girlfriend Doing Donuts

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.


Court Blocks Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Removal

A judge stopped the city from tearing out Bedford Avenue’s only protected bike lane. The fight over safety and street space continues. Cyclists and pedestrians wait as legal battles stall change.

Streetsblog NYC reported on July 15, 2025, that an appellate judge halted Mayor Adams’s plan to remove a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. Judge Ventura issued a restraining order after Transportation Alternatives and Baruch Herzfeld appealed the city’s move. The city had planned to start demolition after complaints from local leaders, but the court’s order blocks any changes until further review. Streetsblog quotes Ben Furnas: 'The Adams administration is going to have to spend their night preparing their legal case, not ripping out a critical safety project.' The article highlights weak enforcement of parking rules and the city’s reversal against its own DOT’s safety plan. The case underscores how political pressure and lax enforcement can threaten vulnerable road users.


Hit-And-Run Kills Two In Sunset Park

A car sped down Third Avenue. Two men, one with a cart, one with a cane, crossed. The driver did not brake. Both men died in the street. The car fled. Police arrested the driver hours later.

ABC7 reported on July 11, 2025, that two men, aged 59 and 80, were killed by a hit-and-run driver at Third Avenue and 52nd Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Surveillance showed the car "speeding southbound" and not braking before impact. The driver, Juventino Anastacio Florentino, was arrested and charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and reckless driving. The victims, Kex Un Chen and Faqiu Lin, were likely headed to a local food pantry. The incident highlights the lethal risk posed by reckless driving and the vulnerability of pedestrians, especially near essential services.


Elderly Man Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run

A moped struck a 90-year-old man in Brooklyn. The driver fled. The man died at the hospital. Security video captured the impact. The street claimed another life.

CBS New York (2025-07-10) reports a 90-year-old man died after a moped hit-and-run in Brooklyn. Security footage 'shows the moment the man was struck.' The driver left the scene. The victim died at the hospital. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians and the ongoing danger of drivers who flee. No policy changes or arrests were reported.


Judge Allows Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Change

A judge let the city move a protected bike lane off Bedford Avenue. Cyclists lose curbside safety. Adams pushed the change after local protests. Advocates warn the street grows more dangerous.

Gothamist (2025-07-09) reports a state judge allowed Mayor Adams to remove curbside bike lane protections on Brooklyn's Bedford Avenue. The city will shift the lane to the street's center, ending the barrier of parked cars. The move follows protests from local Orthodox Jewish communities and a recent e-bike crash. Advocates sued, arguing Adams bypassed environmental review. The judge ruled the change was not a major project. Transportation Alternatives warns, 'If the Bedford Avenue safety improvements are destroyed, this all but guarantees that there will be blood on Eric Adams' hands.' The decision highlights Adams' pattern of scaling back street safety redesigns.


Elderly Pedestrian Killed Crossing Avenue I

A Smart Car struck Dov Broyde, 70, as he crossed Avenue I near his home. Medics rushed him to the hospital. He died. The driver stayed. No charges filed. Brooklyn street claimed another life.

NY Daily News (2025-07-08) reports Dov Broyde, 70, was fatally struck by a Smart Car while crossing Avenue I at E. Fifth St. near Midwood around 9:30 p.m. The article states the driver 'plowed into him' and remained at the scene. No criminal charges were filed at the time. The incident highlights persistent danger for pedestrians in New York City, where 55 have died this year. The crash underscores the ongoing toll of traffic violence and the urgent need for systemic safety improvements.


SUV Turns Into E-Scooter on Avenue Y

SUV turned left on Avenue Y. Struck a 19-year-old e-scooter rider. Arm injury. Police cite improper turn and driver distraction. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

A Ford SUV making a left turn on Avenue Y collided with a 19-year-old woman riding an e-scooter. The e-scooter rider suffered an arm injury. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Turning Improperly' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' Both vehicles were traveling west. The SUV driver was licensed and uninjured. The e-scooter rider was not ejected and wore no safety equipment. The report lists no helmet or signal issues for the e-scooter. Systemic danger remains for those outside cars.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824412 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31
Three Drivers Injured in Avenue Z Collision

Two SUVs and a sedan collided on Avenue Z. Three drivers hurt. Police cite driver inattention. Metal twisted. Pain followed. Brooklyn traffic stands still.

Three drivers were injured when two SUVs and a sedan collided on Avenue Z at Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash involved driver inattention or distraction. One driver suffered a knee and leg abrasion. Two others reported pain in the abdomen, pelvis, shoulder, and upper arm. All vehicles were stopped or merging before impact. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other causes are noted.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827916 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31
SUV Kills Boy Crossing Crown Heights Street

An SUV struck and killed eight-year-old Mordica Keller as he crossed Eastern Parkway with his sister. The driver stayed. Blood stained the concrete. The boy died at Kings County Hospital. The street claimed another child.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-29), eight-year-old Mordica Keller was killed by a black Honda Pilot while crossing Eastern Parkway at Albany Street with his sister. The 69-year-old driver, heading south, remained at the scene. Police said, "They were walking, he was crossing the street with his sister." The driver had a green light, and no arrest has been made. The incident highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians at busy intersections. The investigation continues.


SUV Fails to Yield, Cyclist Injured on Bay 48

SUV struck a 69-year-old cyclist on Bay 48 Street. Cyclist ejected, suffered arm injuries. Police cite failure to yield. Bike demolished. SUV undamaged.

A 69-year-old man riding a bike was struck by a station wagon/SUV on Bay 48 Street near Shore Parkway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash occurred when the SUV failed to yield the right-of-way. The cyclist was ejected and sustained injuries to his arm. The bike was demolished. The SUV showed no damage. Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The cyclist was wearing a helmet. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupant.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824737 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31
SUV Strikes E-Bike Rider at 27th Avenue

SUV and e-bike collided at 27th Avenue. Cyclist suffered head injury and minor bleeding. Police list all factors as unspecified. Streets remain hazardous for riders.

An SUV and an e-bike collided at 27th Avenue in Brooklyn. The 68-year-old male cyclist was injured, suffering a head wound and minor bleeding. According to the police report, all contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified.' The SUV’s right rear quarter panel and the e-bike’s left side were damaged. No driver errors are detailed in the report. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, but this is noted only after the absence of identified driver mistakes. The crash underscores the persistent danger faced by cyclists on city streets.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823925 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31
Novakhov Opposes Safety Boosting Speed Camera Program Reauthorization

Eleven city lawmakers voted no on speed cameras. Their votes keep streets exposed. Pedestrians and cyclists lose a shield. Reckless drivers win. The city’s most basic defense—rejected. The toll will be measured in blood, not words.

On June 13 and June 17, 2025, the New York State Senate and Assembly voted on reauthorizing New York City's school zone speed camera program. The Senate passed the measure 38-21; three city senators—Stephen Chan, Andrew Lanza, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton—voted no. The Assembly passed it 110-31, with nine city lawmakers—Alec Brook-Krasny, Lester Chang, Simcha Eichenstein, Michael Novakhov, Stacey Pheffer Amato, Sam Pirozzolo, Michael Reilly, David Weprin, Kalman Yeger—opposing. The Streetsblog NYC article, 'Ye Shall Know Their Names! Meet the Dirty Dozen City Pols Who Voted Against Speed Camera Program,' quotes lawmakers dismissing speed cameras as revenue grabs or burdens. The safety analyst notes: 'The event text does not describe a specific policy or legislative action, so no direct safety impact on pedestrians and cyclists can be assessed.' Still, the votes signal disregard for proven tools that protect those outside cars.


Scarcella-Spanton Opposes Safety-Boosting Speed Camera Reauthorization

Eleven city lawmakers voted no on speed cameras. Their votes keep streets exposed. Pedestrians and cyclists lose a shield. Reckless drivers win. The city’s most basic defense—rejected. The toll will be measured in blood, not words.

On June 13 and June 17, 2025, the New York State Senate and Assembly voted on reauthorizing New York City's school zone speed camera program. The Senate passed the measure 38-21; three city senators—Stephen Chan, Andrew Lanza, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton—voted no. The Assembly passed it 110-31, with nine city lawmakers—Alec Brook-Krasny, Lester Chang, Simcha Eichenstein, Michael Novakhov, Stacey Pheffer Amato, Sam Pirozzolo, Michael Reilly, David Weprin, Kalman Yeger—opposing. The Streetsblog NYC article, 'Ye Shall Know Their Names! Meet the Dirty Dozen City Pols Who Voted Against Speed Camera Program,' quotes lawmakers dismissing speed cameras as revenue grabs or burdens. The safety analyst notes: 'The event text does not describe a specific policy or legislative action, so no direct safety impact on pedestrians and cyclists can be assessed.' Still, the votes signal disregard for proven tools that protect those outside cars.


E-Bike Rider Injured on Avenue X in Brooklyn

E-bike rider struck and injured on Avenue X. Sixty-five-year-old man suffered arm bruises. Crash linked to reaction to another vehicle. No damage to bike. Streets remain hazardous.

A 65-year-old man riding an e-bike on Avenue X in Brooklyn was injured. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle.' The cyclist suffered a contusion to his arm but remained conscious. No damage was reported to the bike. The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as the main contributing factor. No other vehicles or persons were directly involved. The incident highlights the persistent dangers faced by cyclists on city streets.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822649 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31