Blood on Neptune Avenue: How Many More Must Die Before Leaders Act?

• Brooklyn police pursuit ends with pedestrian struck, alleged teenage car thief caught, amny, Published 2025-09-14

Sep 11 - Eastbound on Belt Parkway, a sedan driver hit an SUV’s right rear. The SUV driver, 29, reported back pain and whiplash. Others were listed as unspecified. Police listed contributing factors as unspecified.

Two eastbound vehicles collided on Belt Parkway. A sedan driver hit the rear of an SUV. The sedan had center front damage. The SUV had right rear bumper damage. The SUV’s driver, a 29-year-old woman, was injured and reported back pain and whiplash. A 3-year-old passenger in the SUV and other occupants were recorded with unspecified injuries. According to the police report, both drivers were going straight and contributing factors were listed as Unspecified. The crash was logged at 8:35 a.m. No driver errors were recorded in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4841449 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 7 - Two drivers in eastbound SUVs collided on the Belt Parkway. A 51-year-old front-seat passenger suffered a concussion and shoulder injury. Police recorded driver inattention for both drivers.

Two drivers in eastbound SUVs collided on the Belt Parkway. The crash injured a 51-year-old woman in the front passenger seat. She reported a concussion and a shoulder injury and was conscious and not ejected. According to the police report, both vehicles were going straight eastbound when the drivers crashed. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction for both drivers. The Ford SUV carried New Jersey plates; the Lincoln had New York plates. Damage was recorded to the left front quarter of one vehicle and the right front quarter of the other. Other occupants were listed with unspecified injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840502 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 5 - A driver merging west on the Belt hit two slowing SUVs near Shell Road. Two women drivers suffered head injuries. Police recorded unsafe lane changing and failure to yield by drivers.

Three vehicles were westbound on the Belt Parkway near Shell Road. The driver of a sedan was merging. The drivers of two SUVs were slowing or stopping. Points of impact recorded: the sedan’s left front bumper; right side doors on one SUV; right rear bumper on the second SUV. Two women drivers were hurt with head injuries: a 51-year-old and a 57-year-old, the latter recorded in shock. According to the police report, police recorded unsafe lane changing and failure to yield right-of-way by drivers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840006 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 3 - A pickup driver hit the back of a sedan on W 21 St at Neptune Ave. Two rear passengers suffered arm bruises. The sedan driver reported head pain. Police recorded driver inattention/distraction.

A pickup driver going east rear-ended an eastbound sedan on W 21 St at Neptune Ave in Brooklyn. Two rear passengers, men 53 and 66, sustained shoulder bruises and were listed as injured. The sedan’s 62-year-old driver reported head pain. According to the police report, driver inattention/distraction was recorded as a contributing factor. Vehicle damage listed a center-front impact to the pickup and a center-rear impact to the sedan, consistent with a rear-end crash. Both vehicles were traveling east, per the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4840924 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 1 - A 30-year-old Segway rider was ejected after a frontal impact on Neptune Avenue at W 8th Street. He suffered an elbow and lower-arm contusion and was conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 30-year-old man riding a Segway was ejected after a frontal impact on Neptune Avenue at W 8th Street. He suffered an elbow and lower-arm contusion and was conscious at the scene. The report records one 'Other Motorized' operator traveling south. The Segway shows center-front damage and the point of impact is listed as center front end. The report lists contributing factors as "Unspecified" and records no specific driver errors such as Failure to Yield or Unsafe Speed. Police recorded no other people or vehicles involved; the rider was the sole injured party.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839094 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 31 - A westbound SUV rear-ended another SUV at W 8 St and Surf Ave in Brooklyn. Four people — two drivers and two front-seat passengers — were injured, with whiplash and head and back complaints. Police recorded "Unsafe Speed."

Two westbound SUVs collided at W 8 St and Surf Ave when the driver of the trailing SUV struck the center back end of the lead SUV. Four people were injured: the two drivers and two front-seat passengers. Reported injuries include whiplash and complaints of head and back pain. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Unsafe Speed." Police also recorded "Driver Inattention/Distraction" on an occupant entry. Vehicle damage was center front end on the rear SUV and center back end on the lead SUV. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed as injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838923 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 27 - An SUV turned off Neptune and hit a man on a bike. The rider went down with a leg bruise. The Lexus showed right‑front damage. Police cite traffic control disregarded. A simple turn became a hit on W 5th.

A Lexus SUV making a right turn on Neptune Ave at W 5 St struck a 55-year-old man riding east on a bike. The cyclist was injured, with a knee and lower-leg contusion, and remained conscious. According to the police report, “Traffic Control Disregarded.” Driver errors listed include Traffic Control Disregarded. The SUV showed right-front bumper impact; the bike had front-end damage. The data lists the bicyclist’s safety equipment as None, noted after driver errors as recorded in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838044 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 25 - A sedan cut across Shell Road and hit a northbound cyclist. Metal to leg. Rider down, ejected, in shock. The Nissan’s right front smashed his front wheel. Brooklyn traffic swallowed another person on a bike.

A Nissan sedan traveling east hit a northbound bicyclist at 2896 Shell Rd in Brooklyn. The cyclist was injured, ejected, and in shock with lower‑leg trauma. According to the police report, contributing factors list Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion. The data show the car’s right front quarter panel struck the bike’s front end while both were going straight. The bicyclist was unlicensed, noted only as a status, not a cause. No driver errors were recorded by NYPD in this dataset, a silence that obscures responsibility in a car‑bike impact. The record notes the cyclist wore no safety equipment, after the system’s failure to name driver mistakes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837662 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 18 - Eastbound SUV lost consciousness and hit a stopped taxi on Neptune Ave at W 19th. The cab’s rear crushed. Two passengers hurt. The SUV driver injured. Brooklyn street turns into a trap for the people inside.

An eastbound SUV struck the rear of a stopped taxi on Neptune Ave at W 19 St in Brooklyn. Two taxi passengers were injured with back pain, and the SUV driver was also injured. According to the police report, “contributing factors” included “Lost Consciousness” and “Illnes.” The data shows the SUV hit the taxi’s center back end while the taxi was stopped in traffic, indicating driver incapacitation before impact. Driver errors listed are Lost Consciousness and Illnes. Only after those factors does equipment appear in the data; belts were used by occupants. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed among the injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835880 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 12 - A driver in an SUV turned left on Surf Ave and struck a 31-year-old man at the intersection. He suffered whole-body injuries, a reported concussion and was in shock. Police cited failure to yield by the driver.

A driver in a 2021 Toyota SUV made a left turn on Surf Ave at W 22 St and struck a 31-year-old male pedestrian at the intersection. He suffered whole-body injuries, a reported concussion, and was listed in shock. According to the police report, contributing factors include "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The report lists the vehicle pre-crash action as making a left turn and the point of impact and damage as the right front bumper, consistent with the driver’s left turn striking a person at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834666 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 12 - City pushes Lyft to demand ID for Citi Bike e-bikes. No license, no ride. Kids blocked. Officials claim safety. But new barriers rise. Fewer riders. Streets lose strength in numbers. Risk shifts. Equity suffers.

"Brannan warned that the current self-reported age system is 'a disaster waiting to happen,' especially amid a surge in e-bike crashes involving minors." -- Justin L. Brannan

On August 12, 2025, First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro sent a letter to Lyft CEO David Risher, demanding 'appropriate age verification steps' for Citi Bike e-bike riders, like requiring a driver's license or permit. Council Member Justin Brannan also pressed Lyft to block under-16 users, calling the current system 'a disaster waiting to happen.' The request follows a recent speed cap on Citi Bike e-bikes. But safety analysts warn: license-based checks block youth and those without licenses, cut mode shift, and weaken street equity. Fewer riders mean less safety in numbers for all vulnerable road users.

• NYC asks Lyft to require ID for Citi Bike e-bikes to curb underage riders, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 9 - Coney Island casino plan means thousands more cars. Roads will clog. Parking will vanish. Environmental review shows danger for anyone not behind the wheel.

On August 9, 2025, an environmental impact assessment flagged the proposed Coney Island casino as a threat to street safety. The report, filed with the casino’s license bid, warns: 'The proposed Coney Island casino would likely clog local roads with heavy traffic and overwhelm public parking.' Reporter Kirstyn Brendlen covered the findings. No council members sponsored or voted, but the review shows the casino could bring thousands of cars daily. The safety analyst notes: increased car traffic and parking demand will heighten risks for pedestrians and cyclists, discourage active transportation, and undermine street safety and equity. The system tips toward drivers. The vulnerable pay the price.

• Proposed Coney Island casino could bring heavy traffic, overwhelm parking, according to environmental impact study, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-09

Aug 1 - A driver in a sedan hit a 16-year-old girl at Surf Ave and W 30 St. She suffered a head contusion. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. Noon sun. Busy street.

A driver in a 2008 Nissan sedan hit a 16-year-old pedestrian at Surf Ave and W 30 St in Brooklyn at 12:15 p.m. The girl suffered a head contusion and was recorded as injured. According to the police report, the driver, a 65-year-old woman traveling east, struck her with the center front of the car. Police recorded Failure to Yield Right-of-Way by the driver as the contributing factor. The sedan showed front-end damage. No other injuries were reported in the crash. The vehicle had New Hampshire registration, and the driver held a Florida license. The report did not list any other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832352 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 24 - A six-year-old girl suffered a head injury on Surf Ave. Two children were hurt when their motorized vehicle struck a standing car. No driver errors listed. The street remains unforgiving.

Two children were involved in a crash on Surf Ave at W 24 St in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a six-year-old girl driving an 'Other Motorized' vehicle suffered a head injury, while an eleven-year-old passenger was also hurt. The children's vehicle struck a standing car, damaging the center front end. No driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The injured child was not using safety equipment, as noted in the data. The crash highlights the risks faced by young road users in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834305 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 23 - Two men killed crossing Third Avenue. A driver sped through a red light, fled. Eighty hurt or dead since 2018. Residents rally. Promised fixes stalled. Danger remains. Children cross nine lanes to reach school.

Gothamist (2025-07-23) reports Sunset Park residents and officials demand safety upgrades on Third Avenue after a hit-and-run killed two men. Police say the driver "sped through a red light" and fled. Since 2018, drivers have killed or seriously injured 80 people on this two-mile stretch. A redesign with protected bike lanes was approved but stalled. State Sen. Gounardes criticized the city's response: "We should all be offended... the response... is a sign that says: 'be careful.'" The article highlights the need for enforcement and infrastructure, noting children must cross nine lanes daily.

• Sunset Park Demands Safer Third Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-23

Jul 20 - A driver in an SUV turned left on Neptune Ave and hit a standing scooter. A 44-year-old man suffered a head injury and was listed injured. Police recorded Failure to Yield and Passing or Lane Usage Improper.

An SUV driver made a left turn on Neptune Ave at W 8 St and struck a standing scooter. The scooter driver, a 44-year-old man, suffered a head injury and was listed injured. According to the police report, the crash involved "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver of the SUV. The SUV's left front bumper struck the scooter's right front. Both vehicles were traveling west before the collision. The report lists driver errors as the primary contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829777 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 19 - A sedan struck a 12-year-old boy playing in the roadway in Brooklyn. He suffered hip and upper-leg injuries and was reported in shock with minor bleeding. Police listed no driver error or contributing factors.

According to the police report, a 12-year-old boy playing in the roadway near 2828 W 28 St in Brooklyn was struck by a southbound 2019 Honda sedan at 21:44. The boy suffered hip and upper-leg injuries, was in shock, and had minor bleeding. The sedan’s right front bumper was the point of impact and was damaged. The driver is recorded as female and licensed; the vehicle’s pre-crash action was going straight ahead. Police did not list any contributing factors or driver errors in the report. No other vehicle-occupant injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828769 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 18 - Council Member Justin Brannan moves to stop delivery apps from axing workers at will. The bill targets silent firings. No more robot bosses. Human over algorithm. Status: introduced.

"A big consequence that we saw is that delivery workers are often deactivated from the platforms without any notice or any explanation." -- Justin L. Brannan

On July 18, 2025, Council Member Justin Brannan introduced Intro 1332 to the New York City Council. The bill, now pending committee assignment, would require delivery app companies to give a reason before deactivating workers. Brannan says, 'A big consequence that we saw is that delivery workers are often deactivated from the platforms without any notice or any explanation.' The measure aims to end algorithmic firings and protect gig workers from sudden job loss. However, the event text is too vague to determine a direct safety impact on pedestrians and cyclists, as it does not specify any concrete policy or regulatory change affecting vulnerable road users.

• New Bill Would Block Apps From Deactivating Workers Without Cause, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-18

Jul 18 - Cargo van struck Mayya Gil, 95, as she crossed Cropsey Avenue. She died. Her aide survived. Driver charged with failure to yield and due care. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

Gothamist (2025-07-18) reports a 95-year-old woman, Mayya Gil, died after a cargo van hit her and her home health aide while they crossed Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver, Thimothe Andre, was charged with two counts of failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. Police said Andre struck both victims while turning. Gil died at the hospital; her aide survived. The article notes, 'NYPD data shows 100 people have died in city traffic crashes so far this year.' The case highlights persistent risks for pedestrians and the consequences of driver inattention at city intersections.

• Brooklyn Pedestrian Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-18