May 26 - A fire truck sped south on Flatbush. Sirens blared. A motorcycle crossed Avenue U. Metal struck metal. The rider fell. Paramedics rushed him to Brookdale. He did not survive. Firefighters stood by, unhurt. The city investigates. The street stays dangerous.

ABC7 reported on May 26, 2025, that a motorcyclist was killed after colliding with a fire truck at Flatbush Avenue and Avenue U in Brooklyn. The fire truck, Engine 309, was responding to a fire with lights and sirens activated when it struck the westbound motorcycle at 11:55 p.m. The rider, identified as 30-year-old Valentin Ivancsuk, was pronounced dead at Brookdale University Hospital. Firefighters were evaluated at the scene and were not injured. The FDNY stated the 'incident is under investigation.' The crash highlights the risks at busy intersections, especially when emergency vehicles respond at speed. No details on right-of-way or traffic signals were provided. The investigation may examine protocols for emergency response and intersection safety.

• Motorcyclist Dies in Collision With Fire Truck, ABC7, Published 2025-05-26

May 25 - A woman stepped from her car after a crash in Bed-Stuy. The other driver hit her, dragged her, then sped off the wrong way. He crashed again, abandoned the SUV, and fled. She died at the hospital. The street stayed silent.

NY Daily News reported on May 25, 2025, that a 32-year-old woman was killed after a minor collision near Van Buren St. and Marcus Garvey Blvd. in Brooklyn. After the initial crash, the Chevy Trax driver struck the woman as she exited her vehicle, then drove against traffic on Lafayette Ave., hitting two parked cars before fleeing on foot. Witness Shane Bridges described, "They dragged her like to the middle of the street, and then they turned wrong up Lafayette and she was just left there." The SUV had temporary paper plates. The incident highlights the dangers posed by reckless driving and hit-and-run behavior, especially when drivers ignore traffic direction and abandon crash scenes.

• Driver Runs Down Woman After Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-25

May 21 - Council Member Inna Vernikov forced DOT to pause bike lanes in Sheepshead Bay. Years of planning stalled. Cyclists and pedestrians left exposed. Community support ignored. Streets stay hostile. Safety delayed. Danger remains.

On May 21, 2025, Council Member Inna Vernikov intervened to halt the NYC Department of Transportation's plan for painted bike lanes in Southern Brooklyn's Community Board 14. The project, four years in the making, aimed to address high crash rates and poor bike network coverage. Vernikov announced, 'Happy to say as a result of our conversations and advocacy, @NYC_DOT is PAUSING implementation of bike lanes.' Despite near-unanimous community board support and DOT's safety pledges, Vernikov opposed the project, calling it a 'woke agenda.' Only a portion of the lanes will proceed. Safety analysts warn: 'Opposition to even basic bike infrastructure like painted lanes discourages mode shift, reduces safety in numbers, and maintains street conditions that are inequitable and dangerous for vulnerable road users.' Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

• Proudly Anti-Safety: Brooklyn Pol Boasts of Getting DOT To ‘Pause’ Long Promised Bike Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-21

May 17 - SUV and sedan crashed at Ocean Parkway and Avenue S. One driver suffered a head injury. Both vehicles damaged. No pedestrians involved. Police list causes as unspecified.

A sedan and an SUV collided at Ocean Parkway and Avenue S in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one driver, a 40-year-old man, was injured with a concussion and head trauma. Both vehicles sustained damage. Two other occupants were listed with unspecified injuries. Police list all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The sedan was making a left turn while the SUV was going straight. No driver errors or external factors were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813458 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-05

May 17 - A Ford Explorer struck a man crossing Washington Avenue. The driver fled. The victim died at the hospital. No arrests. Another fatal hit-and-run in Brooklyn, second in a week. Streets stay deadly. Names withheld. Police search for answers.

According to NY Daily News (published May 17, 2025), a 55-year-old man was killed while crossing Washington Ave. at Fulton St. in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, just after midnight. Police said, "a burgundy-colored Ford Explorer heading west on Fulton St. rammed into him." The driver did not stop and fled the scene. Emergency services transported the victim to New York Presbyterian-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he died. No arrests have been made. The article notes this was the second fatal hit-and-run in Brooklyn within a week, highlighting a persistent pattern of drivers leaving crash scenes. The city has seen a slight increase in pedestrian deaths despite an overall drop in fatal crashes, underscoring ongoing risks for those on foot.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Brooklyn Pedestrian, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-17

May 16 - Two sedans crashed at Avenue X. One driver suffered neck and crush injuries. Police cite following too closely. Metal twisted. Streets failed to forgive.

Two sedans collided near 319 Avenue X in Brooklyn. A 32-year-old woman driving a Jeep sedan was injured, suffering neck and crush injuries. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Following Too Closely.' The impact left one driver hurt while others escaped serious injury. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to keep safe distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813759 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-05

May 16 - A woman walked with the light. A Mercedes struck her. Bones broke. She died in the crosswalk. The driver sped through. The street stayed silent. The city failed to protect her.

Streetsblog NYC reported on May 16, 2025, that Maurette Lafleur, 68, died after a driver in a 2025 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 struck her as she crossed Rutland Road at E. 95th Street in East Flatbush. Lafleur was in the crosswalk, with the signal to walk. A witness said, "The lady spin around and sped through." The driver, a 64-year-old woman, has not been charged. The vehicle had one prior violation for blocking a bus lane. The article highlights the lack of immediate accountability and calls for stronger pedestrian protections: "The government should do something, like when people are walking, no cars should be moving."

• Driver Kills Pedestrian In Crosswalk, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-16

May 15 - A car struck Larry Maxwell, 72, on Sutter Avenue. The driver had just crashed into another vehicle and fled. Maxwell died at Brookdale Hospital. The driver did not stop. Police are still searching. No arrests. The street stayed quiet.

NY Daily News reported on May 15, 2025, that Larry Maxwell, 72, was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The article states, “An elderly man was mowed down and killed by a hit-and-run driver in Brooklyn on May 10, just seconds after the same driver smashed into a nearby vehicle.” The driver first collided with a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu, then continued on and struck Maxwell near Sutter Ave. and Osborn St. The Malibu’s occupants were uninjured and remained at the scene. The driver who killed Maxwell fled and remains unidentified. The NYPD Highway District collision investigation squad is investigating. No arrests have been made. The case highlights the lethal risk of fleeing drivers and the ongoing challenge of enforcement.

• Hit-And-Run Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-15

May 14 - Victims and advocates marched to Albany. They demanded action for safer streets. Lawmakers split on bills: some backed speed controls, others balked. The Senate killed an anti-congestion bill. The fight for vulnerable lives pressed on, urgent and raw.

On May 14, 2025, victims of road violence and Families for Safe Streets lobbied at the State Capitol for the SAFE Streets Package. This package includes the 'Idaho stop' bill and the 'Stop Super-Speeders' bill. The event saw support from several Assembly members and a senator for speed controls, while Sen. Anthony Palumbo and Assembly Member Michael Novakhov opposed the super speeder bill, citing government overreach. Sen. Leroy Comrie opposed the Idaho stop bill, citing concerns for seniors. Separately, Senate bill S533, which aimed to block congestion pricing, was defeated in the Senate Transportation Committee. Chair Jeremy Cooney stressed, 'You have to have a plan. If you don’t have a plan, what are [you] doing to get the $15 billion revenue?' The day highlighted the rift between safety demands and political resistance, with victims' voices at the center.

• Pain Points: Victims of Road Violence Make Annual Pilgrimage to Demand Safe Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-14

May 13 - A motorcyclist struck a stopped car on the BQE. He died at the hospital. The driver, unlicensed and lacking required safety equipment, was arrested. The crash happened fast, on a crowded stretch. Police are still investigating.

According to amny (published May 13, 2025), a fatal crash on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway left a motorcyclist dead. The article reports, "Police arrested 44-year-old Laura Cordova... for driving without a license and using a vehicle without ignition interlock." The incident took place near Tillary Street just before 10 p.m. on May 10. The motorcyclist, 27-year-old Sean Johnson, struck Cordova's stopped Honda Accord and later died at Brooklyn Hospital Center. Cordova was required to use an ignition interlock device due to a prior conviction but was not charged with DUI. The NYPD Highway Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate. The case highlights issues of unlicensed driving and compliance with court-ordered safety measures.

• Motorcyclist Killed in BQE Collision Arrest, amny, Published 2025-05-13

May 6 - A principal drove down Lenox Road, lost control, hit parked cars, and flipped his vehicle. Police pulled him from the wreck. He refused a Breathalyzer. Charges followed. The street bore the scars. The system let him drive. The danger stayed.

According to NY Daily News (2025-05-06), Gregory Jackson, principal of Brownsville Collaborative Middle School, crashed on Lenox Road near Utica Ave. Police say he struck several parked cars and overturned his vehicle around 11:30 p.m. Jackson told police he had 'only one drink.' He refused a Breathalyzer test at the scene. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while impaired, and refusing the test. The Department of Education referred questions to the NYPD. The incident highlights the ongoing risk posed by impaired drivers and the vulnerability of anyone near city streets, even when parked. Systemic gaps allow such danger to persist.

• Principal Overturns Car In Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-06

May 4 - A volunteer EMT hit a 19-year-old crossing McDonald Avenue. The crash happened at night. Lights and sirens blared. The young man suffered severe head trauma. Medics rushed him to the hospital. The driver stayed. Police are investigating.

According to NY Daily News (2025-05-04), a Hatzolah volunteer EMT driving a smart car struck a 19-year-old pedestrian at McDonald Avenue and Avenue P in Brooklyn around 1:20 a.m. The article states, “The 39-year-old driver was behind the wheel of a smart car for the ambulance service, going north on McDonald Ave., lights and sirens on, when he struck the pedestrian as he was crossing.” The pedestrian suffered critical head injuries and was transported to Maimonides Hospital. The driver remained at the scene. Police are investigating the crash. The incident highlights the risks faced by pedestrians, even when emergency vehicles are present. No charges have been filed as of publication.

• EMT Strikes Pedestrian On McDonald Ave, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-04

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

Apr 30 - A stolen Porsche sped through Brooklyn. Police set a trap. The driver tried to break through, nearly hitting an officer. A shot rang out. The car crashed. The driver died. The passenger survived. The street bore the cost.

According to the New York Post (April 30, 2025), police shot and killed the driver of a stolen Porsche after he "nearly struck an NYPD officer" while attempting to evade a roadblock near the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. Officers first noticed the vehicle due to stolen plates and tried to pull it over on Cropsey Avenue. The driver fled, leading police to set up a blockade. As the car tried to pass, an officer fired one round, striking the driver. The wounded man crashed into a police car and was later pronounced dead at Brookdale Hospital. The passenger was unharmed and taken into custody. The incident highlights the risks of high-speed chases and roadblocks in dense urban areas, where bystanders and officers face sudden danger.

• Police Shoot Driver At Brooklyn Roadblock, New York Post, Published 2025-04-30

Apr 28 - A box truck struck and killed a motorcyclist at Scott and Flushing. The city will close the cut-through, ban parking at corners, and add pedestrian space. Confusion and blocked sight lines fueled crashes. Change comes after loss and pressure.

Streetsblog NYC reported on April 28, 2025, that the city will close a dangerous Bushwick intersection after a fatal crash killed motorcyclist Philippe Haussmann. The Department of Transportation will ban cars on Scott Avenue between Flushing and Johnson and remove parking at several corners to improve visibility, a process called daylighting. The article notes, 'Drivers struggle to see oncoming traffic on Scott Avenue at Jefferson Street and at Flushing Avenue, due to parking blocking sight lines and the angle of the street.' The intersection saw 39 crashes from 2020 to 2024. The redesign includes a pedestrian plaza, narrowed roadways, and a ban on right turns onto Scott Avenue. These changes follow advocacy from Haussmann’s family and local lawmakers, highlighting systemic danger and the need for proactive street design.

• City Closes Deadly Bushwick Intersection, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-28

Apr 25 - A sedan backed unsafely in Brooklyn. An unlicensed driver struck a pedestrian, injuring his face. Shock followed. Cars collided. Streets stayed dangerous.

A pedestrian suffered facial injuries and shock after being struck by a sedan on Homecrest Ave in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash involved two sedans, one driven by an unlicensed male. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in other actions in the roadway. No driver or occupant injuries were specified. The unlicensed status and unsafe backing led to the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808117 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-05

Apr 24 - Council passed Intro 26-A, banning loud, non-essential helicopters from city heliports. The vote followed a fatal crash. Majority Leader Farias called it a step for health and equity. Councilwoman Vernikov voted no. The bill now awaits the mayor’s signature.

On April 24, 2025, the City Council passed Intro 26-A, a bill targeting helicopter noise and safety. The measure, heard in committee and passed 46-1-1, bans non-essential helicopters that fail FAA noise standards from East 34th Street and Wall Street heliports starting in late 2029. The matter summary states: 'ban noisy non-essential helicopter flights from city heliports following a recent fatal crash.' Majority Leader Amanda Farias, the sponsor, said, 'Intro 26 is a bold step toward a healthier, quieter, and more equitable city.' Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, District 48, voted against the bill. The legislation now awaits Mayor Eric Adams’ signature. No direct safety analyst note was provided, but the bill responds to helicopter crashes that threaten New Yorkers on the ground.

• NYC Council passes bills to crack down on helicopter tours, add new gender option to city documents, nypost.com, Published 2025-04-24

Apr 16 - A new map exposes the city’s worst drivers. Ten repeat offenders rack up hundreds of speed-camera tickets. Fines do nothing. Advocates demand action. The Stop Super Speeders Bill would force speed limiters on these drivers. Lawmakers stall. Streets stay deadly.

The Stop Super Speeders Bill (S7621) is under debate. It would require speed limiter technology for drivers with six or more automated enforcement tickets in a year. The bill is supported by Amber Adler of Families for Safe Streets and Ben Furnas of Transportation Alternatives, who call out the deadly pattern of repeat offenders. Furnas says, 'These results point to a small population with a shocking pattern of recidivism, resistance to traditional deterrents, and disregard for human life.' Adler points to a recent fatal crash by a repeat offender as proof of legislative failure. Assembly Member Michael Novakhov opposes the bill, claiming six tickets is not excessive. The NYPD withholds license plate data, blocking public scrutiny. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program has expired, leaving no replacement. Advocates say the bill is urgent to stop the next tragedy.

• Map Quest: Meet The City’s Most Dangerous Drivers (And Where They’re Preying On You), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-16

Apr 16 - New research from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets announced a report detailing NYC's top 10 super speeders.

• Road report: Here’s where lead-foot drivers repeatedly get speed-camera tickets in NYC, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-04-16