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

Mar 29 - A mother and two daughters died in a Brooklyn crosswalk. A third child clings to life. Ten hurt. The Audi driver, license suspended, rear-ended a car, then plowed into pedestrians. Ocean Parkway’s speed and lawlessness left a family shattered.

ABC7 reported on March 29, 2025, that a mother and her two children were killed while crossing Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the crash was "caused by someone who shouldn't have been on the road." The Audi driver, Mariam Yarimi, 32, had a suspended license. She rear-ended a Toyota Camry, sending her car airborne into a family in the crosswalk. The mother and two daughters died at the scene; a four-year-old boy was critically injured. Ten people were hospitalized. Residents cited chronic speeding and red-light running on Ocean Parkway. Authorities are investigating speed, possible red-light running, and impairment. No arrests have been made. The crash highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians and systemic failures in traffic enforcement.

• Brooklyn Crosswalk Crash Kills Family, ABC7, Published 2025-03-29

Mar 23 - Luis Cruz stepped from his car. An e-bike delivery worker sped through a stop sign. The crash was sudden. Cruz died on the street. The rider stayed. The intersection has seen this before. The system pushes speed. The danger remains.

Gothamist reported on March 23, 2025, that Luis Cruz, 49, died after an e-bike delivery worker "sped through a stop sign" and struck him as he exited his double-parked car in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Witness Jack Collins said, "He died basically on the spot." The e-bike rider remained at the scene. No arrests were made. The article notes this intersection is known for frequent stop sign violations: "It's not a unicorn incident. It's happened a lot." The piece highlights systemic issues, including delivery app pressures and gaps in e-bike regulation. City data shows e-bikes account for less than 2% of traffic deaths, but the policy debate continues. Lawmakers have called for tighter rules, as delivery workers face incentives to rush.

• E-Bike Rider Runs Stop, Kills Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-23

Mar 20 - A child passenger suffered whiplash and full-body injuries in a Brooklyn crash involving a sedan. The child was restrained and conscious, lying across a rear seat. The sedan was struck on its right rear bumper while parked, causing injury to the occupant.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Bay 43 Street in Brooklyn around 2:40 PM. A 2022 Nissan sedan, traveling west, was parked when it was struck on the center back end, specifically the right rear bumper. The injured party was a child passenger seated in the middle rear seat or lying across the seat, secured with a child restraint. The child sustained whiplash and injuries to the entire body but was conscious and not ejected. The report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers of impacts to parked vehicles and the vulnerability of child passengers inside.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800512 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 15 - A police cruiser swerved from a U-turning car and crashed into a building. Two officers went to the hospital. The street bore the scars. Metal, glass, brick—shattered. Sirens cut the air. The city’s danger showed, again.

ABC7 reported on March 15, 2025, that two NYPD officers crashed their cruiser into a building at Victory Boulevard and Montgomery Street in Staten Island. The officers were responding to a call about a man with a gun. According to the article, 'another vehicle attempted to make a U-turn, causing the police cruiser to swerve to avoid a collision.' Both officers were hospitalized and are expected to recover. The crash highlights the risks of sudden maneuvers and U-turns on busy city streets. No bystanders were reported injured. The incident underscores the persistent dangers posed by unpredictable driver actions and the high stakes of emergency response in dense urban environments.

• Police Cruiser Slams Into Staten Island Building, ABC7, Published 2025-03-15

Mar 8 - A driver out on bail smashed into a Toyota in Bushwick. The crash killed Hayden Wallace and injured three others. The driver fled, leaving chaos behind. Police tracked him for over a year. Charges stack up, but the loss remains.

NY Daily News (March 8, 2025) reports that Christopher Seabrook, 28, was arrested after a deadly hit-and-run in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Seabrook had been out on bail for a previous crash involving police. On January 8, 2024, he crashed into a Toyota, killing Hayden Wallace and injuring three others. Seabrook fled the scene, abandoning his vehicle. The article notes, "All accidents are useless but this one was even more useless because [Seabrook] had so many other offenses." Seabrook faces 23 charges, including manslaughter, leaving the scene, unlicensed driving, and speeding. The case highlights repeated driver offenses and questions about bail and enforcement. Police needed over a year to arrest Seabrook, who had a history of fleeing crashes and driving without a license.

• Repeat Offender Kills Passenger In Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-08

Mar 3 - A dump truck turned right on Withers Street. It struck a man crouched in the road. The driver fled. The man died at Elmhurst Hospital. Police are still investigating. Brooklyn’s streets claim more lives. The toll grows.

Gothamist reported on March 3, 2025, that a dump truck driver fatally struck a man in his 20s on Withers Street near Woodpoint Road in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The man was 'crouched in the street to pick up food' when the northbound truck turned right and hit him, according to NYPD officials. The driver, a 49-year-old man, left the scene. No arrests have been made. The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. The article notes this crash followed two other recent fatal collisions in Brooklyn. The incident underscores persistent dangers for pedestrians and ongoing issues with drivers leaving crash scenes. NYPD data shows at least 10 traffic deaths in Brooklyn so far this year, matching last year’s pace.

• Dump Truck Kills Pedestrian In Williamsburg, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-03

Mar 2 - A man sped through a stop sign in Brownsville. His Mercedes hit a school bus. His passenger died. He ran from the wreck in a taxi. Police found him later. The victim’s family mourns. The street remains unchanged.

NY Daily News reported on March 2, 2025, that Tyree Epps, 32, drove a Mercedes-Benz without a license, ran a stop sign on Van Sinderen Ave, and crashed into a school bus. The article states, “After the crash, Epps hopped in a taxi and took off, leaving his 26-year-old passenger, Imani Vance, in the front seat suffering severe head trauma.” Epps faces charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene, and unlicensed driving. The bus driver survived. The crash exposes ongoing risks from unlicensed, reckless drivers and the persistent danger at city intersections. The victim’s family is left to grieve and organize a funeral, while the intersection remains a site of loss.

• Unlicensed Driver Flees Fatal Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-02

Mar 1 - Two sedans slammed together on Belt Parkway after midnight. Three men hurt—head wounds, bruises, whiplash. Police blamed driver inattention and other vehicular factors. All stayed conscious. None ejected.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Belt Parkway at 12:21 a.m. The crash left three male occupants, ages 19 and 28, injured with head trauma, whiplash, and leg bruises. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. Impact struck the right front of one car and the left rear of the other. All victims were conscious and not ejected. Passengers wore lap belts and harnesses. Both drivers were licensed and headed straight before the crash. The report does not fault the injured occupants, focusing on driver inattention and vehicular issues.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795587 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 1 - A woman stepped from a cab onto Flatbush Avenue. A Chevrolet struck her. She died at the hospital. Two cars, one victim, late at night. The street did not forgive her pause. The drivers stayed. The city investigates.

ABC7 reported on March 1, 2025, that a 45-year-old woman was killed after exiting a taxi near State Street and Flatbush Avenue in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. According to the NYPD, she was "riding in a black Cadillac traveling southbound in the middle lane" before she got out. A gray Chevrolet, also southbound but in the right lane, struck her. Both drivers remained at the scene. No arrests have been made. The NYPD Highway Collision Investigation Squad continues to review the crash. The incident highlights the risks faced by passengers exiting vehicles on busy city streets, and underscores the dangers of multi-lane traffic corridors where vulnerable road users must navigate fast-moving cars.

• Woman Killed Exiting Taxi In Brooklyn, ABC7, Published 2025-03-01

Feb 28 - A drunk driver blasted through a red light at 72 mph. He struck Katherine Harris, killing her steps from home. The car crashed on. Blood alcohol twice the limit. The street became a crime scene. Lives shattered in seconds.

NY Daily News reported on February 28, 2025, that Erick Trujillo, 29, was sentenced to three to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. On April 16, 2023, Trujillo drove his Volvo at 72 mph—nearly triple the speed limit—through a red light at Atlantic Ave and Clinton Street in Brooklyn. He struck pedestrian Katherine Harris, 31, killing her instantly, then rear-ended another car and crashed into an outdoor dining shed. Trujillo's blood alcohol level was .17, more than twice the legal limit. The article quotes Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez: "This defendant made a disastrous decision when he got behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated." The case highlights the lethal consequences of impaired driving and excessive speed, underscoring systemic risks for pedestrians in New York City.

• Drunk Driver Speeds, Kills Pedestrian in Brooklyn, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-28

Feb 25 - Two sedans crashed head-on and rear-end on 27 Ave in Brooklyn. One driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as the cause. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage in the nighttime collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 27 Ave near Bath Ave in Brooklyn at 8:49 PM. Two sedans traveling east and southwest collided, with impact points at the center front end and right rear bumper. The driver of one sedan, a 38-year-old man, was injured with contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report attributes the crash to 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor for the collision. Both drivers were licensed in New York. Vehicle damage was concentrated at the front ends, indicating a failure to maintain attention leading to the collision. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794990 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 18 - A BMW X5 veered off Belt Parkway near Exit 14. The SUV struck a tree. Marcus Joseph, 41, died at the scene. No passengers. No bystanders hurt. The crash left only silence and wreckage on the Brooklyn road.

NY Daily News (2025-02-18) reports Marcus Joseph, 41, died after his BMW X5 spun out of control on the Belt Parkway near Exit 14 in Starrett City, Brooklyn. Police said the SUV 'skidded off the road and slammed into a tree.' Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The article does not mention weather or road conditions. The incident highlights the dangers of high-speed corridors like the Belt Parkway, where loss of control can prove fatal. No charges were filed. The report underscores the persistent risks for all road users on New York City highways.

• BMW Skids, Slams Tree On Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-18

Feb 17 - A 47-year-old man suffered a fractured dislocation while crossing 86th Street. The pedestrian was conscious but injured across his entire body. The driver was going straight westbound. Contributing factors remain unspecified in the police report.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 86th Street while crossing without a signal or crosswalk. The pedestrian sustained a fracture and dislocation affecting his entire body and remained conscious after the collision. The vehicle involved was traveling westbound, going straight ahead, and struck the pedestrian at an unspecified point of impact. The report does not specify the vehicle type or driver details. No explicit driver errors such as Failure to Yield or speeding are listed, and contributing factors are marked as unspecified. The pedestrian's crossing action was noted but not cited as a contributing factor. The report focuses on the collision dynamics and injury severity without assigning blame to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793249 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 16 - Two sedans smashed head-on on Cropsey Avenue. Night. One driver, sixty-three, took chest injuries and shock. Police blamed broken traffic signals. System failed. Metal and bodies paid the price.

According to the police report, two sedans collided head-on on Cropsey Avenue near Shore Parkway at 8:55 p.m. The 63-year-old male driver of one sedan suffered chest injuries and shock. Both vehicles took center front end damage. Police cited 'Traffic Control Device Improper/Non-Working' as a contributing factor for both drivers. No other driver errors were listed. The injured driver wore a lap belt and was not ejected. Faulty traffic signals at the scene directly contributed to the crash, exposing a systemic hazard for all road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793133 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 14 - A 16-year-old girl crossing with the signal was struck by a sedan making an improper left turn. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing a head injury and contusion. The pedestrian remained conscious despite the impact in Brooklyn.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling southwest on 28 Ave in Brooklyn struck a 16-year-old female pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the vehicle, making a left turn, failed to yield right-of-way and turned improperly. The collision caused a head injury and contusion to the pedestrian, who remained conscious. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factors attributed to the driver. The vehicle showed no damage, and the driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal is noted but not cited as a contributing factor. This incident highlights driver errors in yielding and turning that led to serious injury of a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793132 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 13 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Jan 31 - Assembly bill A 4214 lets drivers escape speed camera tickets if paperwork is sloppy. Missing, wrong, or unreadable info means no fine. Vulnerable road users lose a layer of protection.

Assembly bill A 4214, sponsored by Mike Reilly (District 62) with Michael Novakhov and Joe DeStefano, sits at the sponsorship stage. Introduced January 31, 2025, it reads: 'Permits a violation captured by a speed camera to be dismissed...if any information...is omitted...misdescribed or illegible.' The bill weakens speed camera enforcement by letting drivers dodge tickets on technicalities. No safety analyst has weighed in, but the measure chips away at a tool that slows cars and shields people on foot and bike.

• File A 4214, Open States, Published 2025-01-31

Jan 31 - Assembly bill A 4147 orders bold yellow signs near speed cameras. Signs must stand within fifty feet. Drivers get clear warning. Sponsors push for visibility. No mention of direct safety gains for walkers or riders.

Assembly bill A 4147 was introduced on January 31, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Relates to requirements for signs providing notice of the use of a photo speed violation monitoring system,' demands that warning signs be primarily yellow and placed within fifty feet of speed cameras. Assembly Members Mike Reilly (primary sponsor), Michael Novakhov, and Joe DeStefano back the measure. The bill aims for clearer notice to drivers. There is no analyst note on its impact for vulnerable road users.

• File A 4147, Open States, Published 2025-01-31

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 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