Belt Parkway Bleeds. Ocean Avenue Mourns.

Feb 22 - A taxi driver fell asleep at the wheel on Avenue Z, crashing head-on into a westbound sedan. Both drivers suffered head injuries and whiplash. The crash left two men injured, exposing the dangers of driver fatigue and inattentiveness in Brooklyn traffic.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Avenue Z in Brooklyn at 13:45. A taxi driver traveling eastbound "fell asleep," a primary contributing factor cited in the report, leading to a collision with a westbound sedan. Both drivers, men aged 59 and 40, sustained head injuries and whiplash, with injury severity rated at level 3. The taxi's center front end and the sedan's left front bumper were damaged. The report highlights "Fell Asleep" and "Other Vehicular" as contributing factors for the taxi driver, and "Other Vehicular" for the sedan driver, indicating driver error as central to the crash. Both drivers were licensed and conscious post-collision. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. This incident underscores the systemic danger posed by driver fatigue and inattentiveness on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4704485 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 21 - An 84-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg injuries while crossing Haring Street at Avenue U in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was struck despite crossing with the signal. The driver’s actions remain unspecified, highlighting ongoing risks at intersections.

According to the police report, an 84-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Haring Street and Avenue U in Brooklyn around 3:35 p.m. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the crash occurred. He sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in shock and injury severity level 3. The report does not specify the vehicle type or driver actions, nor does it list any contributing factors such as driver errors or pedestrian fault. The absence of identified driver errors in the report underscores systemic dangers pedestrians face even when crossing legally. The pedestrian’s compliance with crossing signals is noted, but no other contributing factors were recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705138 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 19 - A sedan slammed into a stopped SUV on Knapp Street. The SUV driver, a 51-year-old woman, was left semiconscious and injured. Police cited alcohol involvement. Metal twisted. Traffic stopped. Danger struck.

According to the police report, a southbound sedan collided with the right rear bumper of a stopped SUV on Knapp Street in Brooklyn at 18:26. The SUV’s driver, a 51-year-old woman, was found semiconscious and injured. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. Both vehicles were stopped in traffic before the crash. The impact damaged the SUV’s right rear quarter panel. No contributing factors related to the victim were listed. The report highlights alcohol involvement as a key driver error in this collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703873 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 8 - A sedan making a right turn collided with a bicyclist traveling straight on Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn. The bicyclist was ejected and suffered abrasions and injuries to her elbow and lower arm. The crash involved improper lane usage by the driver.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:01 on Ocean Avenue near Avenue Z in Brooklyn. A 41-year-old female bicyclist, wearing a helmet, was traveling eastbound going straight ahead when a 2019 sedan, driven by a licensed male driver heading southbound, made a right turn and struck her on the right side doors of the vehicle. The bicyclist was ejected from her bike and sustained abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The police report cites 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error in lane management during the turn. The bicyclist’s helmet use is noted but not listed as a contributing factor. There is no indication of fault or error on the part of the bicyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701166 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 7 - A multi-vehicle collision on Belt Parkway sent two passengers to the hospital with serious injuries. The crash involved SUVs and a sedan, triggered by a driver following too closely. Both injured men were restrained but suffered knee and neck trauma.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Belt Parkway at 14:18 involving multiple vehicles traveling westbound. The collision was caused by a driver failing to maintain a safe distance, cited as "Following Too Closely." The impact involved several Station Wagon/SUVs and a sedan. Two male passengers, ages 36 and 46, were injured. The 36-year-old rear left passenger suffered contusions to his knee, lower leg, and foot, while the 46-year-old front passenger sustained whiplash to his neck. Both were conscious and restrained with lap belts and harnesses at the time of the crash. The report notes the point of impact as the center back end of some vehicles and the center front end of others, consistent with a rear-end collision sequence. Driver errors, specifically the failure to maintain a safe following distance, directly contributed to the injuries sustained by the passengers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700944 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 6 - State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and others joined a lawsuit to block New York’s congestion pricing. The editorial rails against tolls, calling them a blow to working New Yorkers. No mention of pedestrian or cyclist safety. The fight centers on driver costs.

On February 6, 2024, an editorial titled 'Time for insane NYC congestion pricing plan to hit the road' opposed the city’s congestion pricing scheme. State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-23) joined 17 other lawmakers in a lawsuit against the plan, which would charge drivers entering Midtown Manhattan. The editorial claims, 'solving [MTA fiscal problems] by punishing average New Yorkers simply for driving is insane,' and highlights concerns over economic burden. The piece quotes union leaders and lawmakers, including Scarcella-Spanton, City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli, and US Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, all opposing the tolls. There is no assessment of the impact on vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, or transit riders. The focus remains on driver expenses and political backlash.

• Time for insane NYC congestion pricing plan to hit the road, nypost.com, Published 2024-02-06

Feb 5 - Two pick-up trucks slammed together on Avenue W. Both drivers hurt, backs and necks wrenched. Police cite traffic control disregard. Metal twisted. Shock followed. The street held the wreckage.

According to the police report, two pick-up trucks collided on Avenue W in Brooklyn at 8:27 PM. Both drivers, a 53-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man, suffered moderate back and neck injuries. Each was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor for both drivers, showing a failure to obey traffic signals or signs. No other contributing factors or victim actions are noted. The crash left both drivers in shock and caused visible damage to the vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700504 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 5 - A sedan driver crashed into a parked car on Avenue X. Police cite alcohol involvement. The driver was injured. No one else was hurt. The parked car was empty. Impact crushed metal. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, a 57-year-old man driving a sedan west on Avenue X in Brooklyn struck a parked sedan at 14:12. The driver was injured and described as incoherent at the scene. Police list alcohol involvement as the primary contributing factor. The moving car's right front bumper hit the center back end of the parked vehicle. No pedestrians or passengers were involved. The parked car was empty and stationary before the crash. The report does not list any other contributing factors beyond alcohol involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700489 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 4 - Eighteen lawmakers, including Joseph Borelli, sued to stop New York’s $15 congestion pricing. They claim the toll shifts pollution, burdens drivers, and fails communities with poor transit. The MTA defends the plan, saying it funds safer, less crowded streets.

On February 4, 2024, Council Member Joseph C. Borelli (District 51) joined seventeen other lawmakers in a federal lawsuit to block New York City’s $15 congestion pricing toll for Midtown Manhattan. The suit, supported by both Democrats and Republicans, argues the toll 'is a detriment to those that will be affected by this toll, environmentally and financially,' and claims it will shift traffic and pollution to other neighborhoods. Other plaintiffs include State Senators James Skoufis, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Iwen Chu, Monica Martinez, and Assemblymembers Aileen Gunther, Jamie Williams, and David Weprin. The MTA, backed by Governor Hochul, says the toll will raise $1 billion yearly for transit upgrades, promising safer, less congested streets and better transit for the majority who rely on public transportation. The case highlights the political and environmental battle over how to fund and shape New York’s streets.

• 18 NY lawmakers join suit to block $15 congestion toll, nypost.com, Published 2024-02-04

Jan 31 - Two sedans slammed together at Dooley Street and Emmons Avenue. A 57-year-old driver suffered back injuries and shock. Both cars took heavy front-end damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at midnight on Dooley Street near Emmons Avenue in Brooklyn. A 57-year-old male driver was injured, suffering back trauma and shock. The BMW sedan was heading west, going straight, while the Ford sedan was eastbound, making a left turn. Impact struck the BMW’s left front bumper and the Ford’s right front bumper, damaging both vehicles’ front ends. The injured driver wore a lap belt and was not ejected. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699526 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 30 - A male pedestrian suffered a severe chest fracture after being struck on Avenue V. The crash involved multiple sedans, with alcohol cited as a contributing factor. The pedestrian was conscious but seriously injured, highlighting driver impairment dangers.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Avenue V at 12:55. A male pedestrian not at an intersection was injured with a chest fracture and dislocation, classified as injury severity 3. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor for both the pedestrian and the crash. The collision involved at least one sedan driven by a licensed male driver from Texas, with damage reported at the center back end of the vehicle. Two other parked sedans were also involved, sustaining damage to their left front quarter panels. The report identifies alcohol involvement as the primary driver error contributing to the crash. No pedestrian fault or behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The pedestrian was conscious but seriously injured, underscoring the systemic danger posed by impaired driving.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698908 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 27 - A moped driver was ejected and seriously injured after a collision with a sedan making a left turn on Ocean Avenue. The impact fractured the rider’s lower leg and foot. Both vehicles were traveling north when the crash occurred.

According to the police report, a moped and a sedan collided on Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn at 11:15. Both vehicles were traveling north and making left turns when the crash occurred. The moped driver, a 22-year-old male wearing a helmet, was ejected from the vehicle and sustained a fractured, distorted, and dislocated injury to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists the moped driver’s contributing factors as unspecified, and no explicit driver errors such as Failure to Yield were cited. The sedan driver was licensed and also making a left turn. The collision point was the center back end of the moped and the left front bumper of the sedan, indicating a side-impact during the turn. The report highlights the dangers of left-turn maneuvers involving vulnerable road users like moped riders.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698474 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 21 - A 51-year-old man was injured crossing Sheepshead Bay Road at an intersection. The SUV driver failed to yield right-of-way while making a right turn. The pedestrian suffered bruises and lower leg injuries from the impact with the vehicle’s front bumper.

According to the police report, a 51-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Sheepshead Bay Road and Voorhies Avenue in Brooklyn at 5:43 p.m. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2016 Toyota SUV, traveling east and making a right turn, struck him with its right front bumper. The report cites the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, remaining conscious after the collision. The vehicle damage was limited to the right front bumper. The driver was licensed in New York, and no other contributing factors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4696787 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 21 - A Ford pickup turned left on Avenue X. Its bumper hit a 62-year-old woman crossing at East 16th Street. She died there, head struck, as the light faded. The street held her last breath. Brooklyn lost another pedestrian.

According to the police report, a 62-year-old woman entered the marked crosswalk at Avenue X and East 16th Street. A westbound Ford pickup truck, making a left turn, struck her with its left front bumper, causing fatal head injuries. The report states she was crossing at the intersection, with no signal present. The driver was licensed and operating a 2010 Ford pickup. The police narrative notes the woman died at the scene. The contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified' in the report, but the sequence of events centers on the driver’s left turn into the crosswalk where the pedestrian was present. The impact location and vehicle damage confirm the collision point. No driver error is explicitly named, but the facts highlight the systemic danger faced by pedestrians in crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4696753 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 20 - A 47-year-old woman driving an SUV suffered back injuries and whiplash after a collision with a sedan making a left turn. The impact damaged the SUV’s right side doors and left the driver in shock, restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:36 on Nostrand Avenue involving a 2018 Jeep SUV traveling south and a 2007 Dodge sedan making a left turn southeast. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the SUV and the center front end of the sedan. The SUV driver, a 47-year-old woman, was injured with back pain and whiplash and was not ejected, restrained by a lap belt. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the SUV driver. The sedan driver was licensed and making a left turn at the time of the collision. Vehicle damage included the right side doors of the SUV and the right front quarter panel of the sedan. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The crash highlights risks posed by turning vehicles and the resulting injuries to vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4696364 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 14 - A sedan slammed its front end on Knapp Street. A 24-year-old woman in the front seat took a blow to the head. Police blame driver inattention and inexperience. The passenger stayed conscious, belted in.

According to the police report, a 2023 BMW sedan traveling north on Knapp Street near Voorhies Avenue in Brooklyn crashed at 14:35. The front end of the car took the hit. A 24-year-old female passenger in the front seat suffered a head contusion but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The collision damaged the sedan's center front. The police report highlights these driver errors as the cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695378 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 11 - A westbound SUV struck the rear of a sedan on Belt Parkway. The sedan driver, a 68-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries and shock. Police cited driver inattention and following too closely as contributing factors in the collision.

According to the police report, at 18:34 on Belt Parkway, a 2021 Jeep SUV traveling westbound rear-ended a 2012 Toyota sedan also heading west. The point of impact was the center back end of the SUV and the left front bumper of the sedan. The sedan driver, a 68-year-old female occupant, was injured with neck pain and experienced shock. She was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain a safe distance and was distracted. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The collision highlights systemic dangers from driver inattention and tailgating on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4694338 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 5 - A Mercedes, northbound on Gerritsen Avenue, struck a garbage truck mid–U-turn. The unlicensed driver, alone, died from head injuries. The streetlamp flickered above. Speed and alcohol fueled the impact. Metal twisted. The city kept moving.

A fatal crash occurred on Gerritsen Avenue near Florence Avenue in Brooklyn, involving a northbound Mercedes sedan and a garbage truck making a U-turn, according to the police report. The report states the Mercedes, driven by a 42-year-old unlicensed male, was traveling at an unsafe speed and collided with the garbage truck's right rear quarter panel. The driver was the sole occupant and was not wearing a seatbelt. Police cite 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Alcohol Involvement' as contributing factors. The crash resulted in fatal head injuries to the sedan driver, who died at the scene. The garbage truck, registered in New York and operated by a licensed driver, was struck during its maneuver. The report does not list any contributing victim behavior. The collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver error and systemic danger on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692848 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 11 - A 27-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured after a sedan made a left turn on Jerome Avenue. The cyclist suffered head injuries and minor bleeding. The driver struck the bike head-on. The rider was semiconscious and wearing a helmet.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Jerome Avenue made a left turn and collided head-on with a bicyclist traveling west. The 27-year-old male bicyclist was ejected from his bike and sustained head injuries with minor bleeding. He was semiconscious at the scene and was wearing a helmet. The report lists the contributing factor as "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion," indicating the bicyclist's actions contributed to the crash. The sedan driver was licensed and driving legally. The point of impact was the center front end of both vehicles. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were noted in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4686405 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 8 - A Ford SUV struck a Subaru sedan from behind on Belt Parkway. The sedan’s 43-year-old male driver suffered a back injury but remained conscious. The SUV driver followed too closely, causing the crash. Both vehicles traveled westbound at impact.

According to the police report, a 2017 Ford SUV rear-ended a 2021 Subaru sedan on Belt Parkway. The sedan’s driver, a 43-year-old man, was injured in the back and remained conscious. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling westbound, going straight ahead. The SUV impacted the center back end of the sedan, damaging the sedan’s left front bumper. The sedan driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No other contributing factors were noted. The crash highlights the dangers of tailgating on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685351 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19