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

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 27 - Two sedans collided on Belt Parkway. Rear driver, 24, suffered back injury and shock. Police blame driver distraction. Both cars moved east when the trailing sedan struck the lead car’s center rear.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling eastbound on Belt Parkway collided when the rear vehicle struck the center back end of the lead car. The 24-year-old male driver of the rear sedan suffered back injuries and shock, with complaints of pain and nausea. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary cause. Both drivers were licensed and driving straight ahead. The injured driver wore a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No other contributing factors or victim actions were listed. The crash underscores the danger of driver distraction on high-speed city roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796085 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 sedan struck the rear of an SUV on West 5 Street in Brooklyn. The crash injured a 16-year-old female passenger in the sedan, causing head trauma and whiplash. Driver distraction was cited as the primary cause of the collision.

According to the police report, at 8:42 PM on West 5 Street near Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn, a 2023 Tesla sedan traveling west rear-ended a 2018 Hino SUV also moving west. The point of impact was the center back end of the SUV and the center front end of the sedan. The sedan driver, a licensed female from Pennsylvania, was cited for driver inattention and distraction as the contributing factor. The collision injured a 16-year-old female passenger seated in the left rear of the sedan. She sustained head injuries and whiplash but was conscious and wearing a lap belt. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the passenger's behavior. The damage to both vehicles was centered on the impacted ends, confirming the rear-end collision dynamic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793367 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 13 - Two SUVs crashed at Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn, striking each other’s right front panels. The female driver of one SUV suffered a back injury and shock. Both drivers were licensed. The collision caused significant vehicle damage but no ejections.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:54 on Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn involving two SUVs traveling south and east respectively. The point of impact was the right front quarter panel of one SUV and the right front bumper of the other. The female driver of the eastbound SUV, aged 32, was injured with back pain and shock but was not ejected. She was wearing a lap belt and harness. Both drivers were licensed in New York and New Jersey. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The collision caused damage primarily to the right front sections of both vehicles. The report focuses on the vehicle impact and resulting injuries without attributing fault or victim behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792827 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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

Feb 11 - A bus traveling east on Mermaid Avenue struck the rear of an SUV, also heading east. The impact injured a 32-year-old male passenger in the SUV’s rear, causing a head contusion. Both vehicles sustained front and rear damage respectively.

According to the police report, a bus and a station wagon/SUV were both traveling east on Mermaid Avenue in Brooklyn at 9:44 PM. The bus struck the center back end of the SUV, which suffered damage to its rear, while the bus sustained damage to its center front end. The collision injured a 32-year-old male occupant seated in the rear of the SUV. He was conscious and suffered a head contusion, classified as injury severity level 3. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. Both drivers were licensed and driving straight ahead. The injury to the passenger highlights the danger of rear-end crashes involving large vehicles like buses, even absent explicit driver fault noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792092 - 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 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 21 - A sedan traveling north on Sheepshead Bay Rd struck its front passenger, causing a head injury. The passenger, a 22-year-old woman, suffered a concussion but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. Driver distraction caused the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:30 on Sheepshead Bay Rd in Brooklyn. The sedan, driven by a licensed male driver, was traveling straight ahead when the right front bumper impacted the front passenger. The passenger, a 22-year-old female occupant, was not ejected and was wearing a lap belt and harness. She sustained a head injury classified as a concussion and was conscious at the scene. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors related to the passenger were listed. The driver’s failure to maintain attention directly led to the injury of the front-seat occupant, highlighting the systemic danger posed by distracted driving.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788329 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 21 - Senator Scarcella-Spanton pushes S 2622. The bill kills congestion pricing, adds an MTA board seat, and orders a forensic audit. Streets risk more cars. Riders and walkers face louder, dirtier roads.

Senate bill S 2622 was introduced on January 21, 2025, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Relates to repealing congestion pricing (Part A); commissioning an independent audit of the metropolitan transportation authority (Part B); and conducting an environmental impact study (Part C),' was sponsored by Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (District 23). The bill repeals congestion pricing, expands the MTA board, and mandates a forensic audit. No safety analyst has assessed the impact, but repealing congestion pricing means more traffic and danger for New York’s most vulnerable on the street.

• File S 2622, Open States, Published 2025-01-21

Jan 16 - Reinvent Albany blasted a bill to exempt NYPD officers from Manhattan congestion tolls. The group called it unfair, a $22 million giveaway to a powerful few. They warned it would drain funds, raise tolls, and reward special interests over public safety.

On January 16, 2025, Reinvent Albany, a good government watchdog, issued a statement opposing a bill from Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato and Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton. The bill seeks to exempt NYPD officers, even off-duty, from paying congestion pricing tolls in Manhattan’s central business district. Reinvent Albany called the measure 'contrary to notions of basic fairness' and a '$22 million handout' to a special interest. The Traffic Mobility Review Board had already rejected such exemptions. The group warned that multiple exemption bills could cost the public $100 million yearly and force higher tolls for everyone else. Neither Pheffer Amato nor Scarcella-Spanton commented. The watchdog urged lawmakers to serve the many, not the powerful few.

• Watchdog Group: No Congestion Pricing Toll Exemptions for Cops!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-16

Jan 15 - A distracted driver crashed on Neptune Avenue. The impact struck the sedan’s left front. A 23-year-old rear passenger suffered abdomen and pelvis injuries. Shock followed. System failed to protect her.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn collided with another vehicle, striking its left front quarter panel. The report cites driver inattention and distraction as the cause. A 23-year-old woman riding as the right rear passenger was injured in the crash, suffering trauma to her abdomen and pelvis. She was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report notes she was in shock, though no visible complaints were recorded. Driver inattention directly led to the collision and the passenger’s injuries. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786230 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 8 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly crossings for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 6 - A 55-year-old female driver suffered upper arm injuries after her sedan struck another vehicle from behind on W 25 St in Brooklyn. The crash caused center back end damage to her car. Police list unspecified driver errors as contributing factors.

According to the police report, a 55-year-old female driver traveling east on W 25 St in Brooklyn was involved in a rear-end collision. The sedan she was driving sustained center back end damage, indicating impact from behind. The driver was injured, specifically to her shoulder and upper arm, and was conscious at the scene. She was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The report cites unspecified contributing factors related to the driver, suggesting errors on her part led to the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision involved another vehicle, a 2023 Tesla, which sustained front end damage. The report focuses on driver errors without attributing fault to any victim behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784720 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 1 - Two sedans collided on Bay View Avenue in Brooklyn. Both drivers were male and licensed. One driver suffered head injuries and whiplash but remained conscious. The crash involved merging and straight travel, with front bumper impacts on both vehicles.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Bay View Avenue in Brooklyn at 16:11. Two sedans, both traveling south, collided. One vehicle was merging while the other was going straight ahead. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the merging sedan and the right front bumper of the other sedan. The male driver of the merging vehicle, aged 30, was injured with head trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors, but the merging maneuver by one vehicle and the straight travel of the other set the conditions for the collision. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784250 - 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 19 - Council moves to test bold pavement markings at crash sites. Five spots per borough. Focus: places where drivers have killed or maimed. Report to follow. Streets marked for danger.

Int 1154-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024. The bill orders a pilot for high visibility pavement markings—at least five locations per borough. The city must target streets with high injury or fatality counts from bad driving. The matter title reads: 'establishing a high visibility pavement marking pilot program.' Council Member Yusef Salaam leads, joined by Menin, De La Rosa, Brooks-Powers, Cabán, Brannan, and Hanif. The law demands a report on results and challenges. The aim: mark danger, force drivers to see, and push the city to act where blood has already been spilled.

• File Int 1154-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

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 - SUV struck a 79-year-old woman in Brooklyn. She crossed with the signal. Driver failed to yield. Hip and leg fractured. Impact left her on the street. Car showed no damage. System failed to protect her.

According to the police report, a 79-year-old woman was crossing Neptune Avenue at W 12th Street in Brooklyn with the signal when a 2022 Mercedes SUV traveling east struck her with its right front bumper. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' twice as the contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered a severe fracture and dislocation to her hip and upper leg. The SUV showed no damage. The driver was licensed. This crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to yield to pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780661 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19