Feb 9 - Ambulance making left turn on Ocean Parkway crashed. Driver distracted. Male passenger in rear injured, found unconscious. Impact struck right front bumper. No other vehicles or pedestrians involved.

According to the police report, an ambulance crashed while making a left turn on Ocean Parkway near Belt Parkway at 12:43 a.m. The vehicle, driven by a licensed female driver, struck with its right front bumper. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. A 53-year-old male passenger in the rear of the ambulance was injured and found unconscious. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The police report notes the passenger used no safety equipment, but does not cite this as a cause. The crash highlights the danger posed by distracted driving, even in emergency vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791656 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 1 - A 79-year-old woman suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a sedan made a left turn and struck her at a Brooklyn intersection. The driver’s inexperience was cited as a contributing factor. The pedestrian was conscious and bruised but not ejected.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Brighton Beach Avenue in Brooklyn at 11:32 AM. A sedan traveling north made a left turn and struck a 79-year-old female pedestrian located at the intersection. The point of impact was the vehicle’s left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity classified as moderate. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor to the collision. The vehicle showed no damage, and the driver was licensed in New York. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but was not ejected from any vehicle. No pedestrian behaviors were listed as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789755 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 24 - Two sedans collided on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn. The male driver failed to yield right-of-way. Both drivers suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The front passenger was also injured. Both occupants were conscious and restrained by seat belts.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:19 on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn involving two sedans. The male driver, traveling west, was cited for failure to yield right-of-way. The collision impacted the left front bumper of one vehicle and the right front bumper of the other. Both the driver and front passenger of the northbound sedan sustained neck injuries and whiplash, classified as injury severity 3. Both occupants were conscious and secured with lap belts and harnesses. The report explicitly identifies the male driver's failure to yield as a contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The female driver was making a left turn at the time of impact. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver errors in yielding right-of-way at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788077 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 - 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 68-year-old man driving a sedan suffered back contusions after an SUV struck his vehicle’s left rear bumper. The crash, marked by driver inattention, unfolded on Ocean Parkway, leaving the sedan driver injured but restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:51 PM on Ocean Parkway involving two vehicles: a 2025 SUV and a 2022 sedan. The SUV was parked before the crash and impacted the left rear bumper of the sedan, which was traveling westbound. The sedan driver, a 68-year-old male occupant, sustained back contusions and was not ejected, secured by a lap belt. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain proper attention, leading to the collision. Both drivers were licensed in New York. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report. The impact caused damage to the left rear bumper of the SUV and the right front bumper of the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786229 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 8 - A 31-year-old man crossing Ocean Parkway with the signal was struck by an SUV making a right turn. The driver’s inattention caused a collision that bruised the pedestrian’s lower leg. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact.

According to the police report, at 18:09 an SUV traveling north on Ocean Parkway made a right turn and struck a pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian, a 31-year-old male, suffered contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle, a 2012 Toyota SUV, sustained no damage despite the center front end impact. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but not ejected. The report does not list any pedestrian behaviors as contributing factors. This collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving during turning maneuvers in pedestrian zones.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784690 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 324 demands complete street design for state- and federally-funded projects. Sponsors push for public guidance. Streets built for people, not just cars. Safety for all hangs in the balance.

Assembly Bill A 324 was introduced on January 8, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding,' aims to force planners to consider all users—pedestrians, cyclists, drivers—when building or upgrading roads. Didi Barrett leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Amy Paulin, and many others. The bill also directs the department to publish street design guidance. No safety analyst note yet, but the measure’s intent is clear: streets should protect the most vulnerable, not just move traffic.

• File A 324, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 7 - Councilwoman Inna Vernikov blasts new MTA tax plans. She calls the agency reckless and accuses leaders of squeezing New Yorkers dry. The debate rages as the state hides details. Riders and workers wait in the crossfire.

"Governor Hochul has gifted the MTA free reign to grift NYC taxpayers into subsidizing their every irresponsible whim because, to them, New Yorkers are nothing but piggy banks to cushion a malfunctioning agency every time it inevitably falls in a financial hole." -- Inna Vernikov

On January 7, 2025, Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (District 48) joined the debate over new funding for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The matter, titled 'Mobility tax, other fees to prop up flailing MTA even after congestion toll — but Hochul’s plans remain secret,' centers on Governor Hochul’s undisclosed plans to hike the payroll mobility tax and add new fees, even after a $9 congestion toll. Vernikov, mentioned as a strong opponent, said, 'Governor Hochul has gifted the MTA free reign to grift NYC taxpayers into subsidizing their every irresponsible whim.' The bill’s status remains uncertain, with the state legislature previously rejecting a similar tax hike. No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users. The debate continues in committee, with business leaders and councilmembers warning of harm to affordability and the city’s business climate.

• Mobility tax, other fees to prop up flailing MTA even after congestion toll — but Hochul’s plans remain secret, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-07

Jan 3 - Two sedans collided on Brighton 7 St in Brooklyn. Both drivers were distracted, causing impact on the right front bumper and left rear quarter panel. A 57-year-old passenger suffered shoulder injuries and shock, restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:45 on Brighton 7 St, Brooklyn. Two sedans traveling west collided; one was going straight ahead and the other was changing lanes. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the first sedan and the left rear quarter panel of the second. Both drivers had contributing factors of inattention and distraction, with one also noted for inexperience. A 57-year-old male occupant in the right rear passenger seat was injured, suffering upper arm and shoulder injuries and experiencing shock. He was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report cites driver inattention and distraction as the primary causes, with no contributing factors attributed to the injured passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783726 - 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 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 12 - A box truck turned right on Brighton Beach Avenue. Its bumper struck a young woman crossing. Blood pooled on the pavement. She stayed conscious, leg torn open. The truck stood silent, metal clean. The street bore the wound.

According to the police report, a box truck was making a right turn at Brighton Beach Avenue and Brighton 7th Street when its right front bumper struck a 27-year-old woman crossing the intersection. The report notes 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to her knee and lower leg, remaining conscious at the scene. The narrative describes blood on the pavement and the truck coming to a stop with no visible damage. The police report also states the pedestrian was 'crossing against the light,' but the primary cited cause remains driver inattention. The collision highlights the lethal consequences when large vehicles and vulnerable road users meet at busy Brooklyn intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780524 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 3 - A 13-year-old girl crossing with the signal was struck by a northbound sedan on Coney Island Avenue. The impact caused contusions and hip-upper leg injuries. The driver’s inattention was cited as the primary cause of the crash.

According to the police report, a 13-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn around 5:50 PM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a northbound sedan struck her on the left front bumper. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian suffered contusions and injuries to the hip and upper leg but remained conscious. The vehicle showed no damage. The report does not indicate any contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior. This collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in areas where pedestrians are legally crossing.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778200 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 27 - A driver struck three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, hit a vehicle with a pregnant woman, then crashed into an empty car. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her at the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist reported on November 27, 2024, that a New York City Housing Authority employee was arrested after a chaotic crash in Brooklyn. According to police, the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," then "drove away, dragging the person several feet and hitting another car with a pregnant woman inside." She struck a third, empty car before New York City Sheriffs arrested her nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but no serious injuries were reported. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights the dangers of hit-and-run behavior and the risks faced by vulnerable road users at busy intersections.

• Three-Car Brooklyn Crash Sparks Arrest, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27