Belt Parkway Bleeds. Ocean Avenue Mourns.

Feb 3 - DOT revives its student contest to push street safety and walking. Kids make PSAs. Winners get cash. Council Member Narcisse backs the move. The city wants young voices to remind drivers: streets are for people, not just cars.

On February 3, 2023, the Department of Transportation announced the return of the 'We're Walking Here' competition. This program, paused during the pandemic, targets K-12 students across New York City. The contest runs March 6-31, with students creating public-service announcements to promote walking and traffic safety. Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, representing District 46, voiced support: 'I am happy to support the NYC DOT's relaunch of their "We're Walking Here" campaign to raise awareness of our collective responsibility to eliminate all traffic deaths and serious injuries.' The contest partners with the 'Hip Hop 50' campaign, blending street safety with city culture. Winners receive prizes from The Safe Streets Fund. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez called students 'some of our most vulnerable pedestrians.' The program aims to put safety in the hands of those most at risk.

• DOT brings back student competition that promotes health and street safety, amny.com, Published 2023-02-03

Feb 1 - A toddler suffered facial bruising in a multi-vehicle crash on Avenue W. The child was restrained in a car seat and remained conscious. Alcohol involvement was noted. Several vehicles sustained front and rear bumper damage in the collision.

According to the police report, a crash occurred on Avenue W involving multiple vehicles, including SUVs and sedans. A one-year-old occupant, restrained in a child safety seat, was injured with facial contusions but was conscious. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. The collision caused damage to the right front bumper of a parked SUV, the left rear quarter panel of another SUV traveling west, and front ends of sedans traveling north and parked east. No ejections occurred. The driver errors identified include alcohol involvement, which likely impaired judgment or reaction. The toddler was a passenger and not at fault.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4602481 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 26 - A 52-year-old woman was hit by an SUV while crossing Avenue U in Brooklyn. The driver was making a left turn. The pedestrian suffered a fractured knee and lower leg. The vehicle showed no damage. The crash happened away from an intersection.

According to the police report, a 52-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Avenue U outside an intersection in Brooklyn. The driver, a licensed male operating a 2012 SUV, was making a left turn when the collision occurred. The pedestrian sustained fractures and dislocations to her knee and lower leg. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian with its right front bumper but showed no damage. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian but does not identify any driver errors or violations. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. No helmet or signaling factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4600832 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 24 - Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-01-24

Jan 13 - Motorcycle struck sedan’s rear as it turned left on Knapp Street. Rider, 37, fractured elbow and dislocated arm. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield. Sedan driver unhurt.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling south on Knapp Street collided with the right rear quarter panel of a sedan making a left turn onto Avenue Y. The 37-year-old male motorcycle driver suffered a fractured elbow and dislocation but was not ejected and remained conscious. The sedan driver, a licensed woman, was uninjured. Police list driver inattention/distraction and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. The motorcycle rider wore a helmet. No other contributing factors or victim errors are noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4598377 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 13 - Assembly bill A 1280 pushes for streets built for all. Dozens of lawmakers back the plan. The bill demands roads that protect walkers, cyclists, and riders. It calls for design, not luck, to keep people safe.

Assembly bill A 1280, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 13, 2023, the bill sits with the Assembly. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 70 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Kenny Burgos, and Catalina Cruz. Their action signals strong legislative momentum. The bill’s focus: force planners to build streets for people, not just cars. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear—systemic change for vulnerable road users. The bill’s progress can be tracked at the New York Assembly website.

• File A 1280, Open States, Published 2023-01-13

Jan 13 - A private sanitation truck struck and killed Diego Andrade as he crossed Kings Highway at E. 14th Street. The driver turned left, hit Andrade, and stayed at the scene. No charges. Kings Highway is notorious for crashes. City has not acted. Residents fear for their lives.

On January 13, 2023, a fatal crash occurred on Kings Highway in Brooklyn. Diego Andrade, a pedestrian, was killed by the driver of a 2016 Mack sanitation truck turning left at E. 14th Street. The driver remained at the scene and faced no charges. The incident happened along a stretch with a history of frequent crashes—41 reported in the previous year on just ten blocks, injuring 13 pedestrians and one cyclist. The Department of Transportation has not addressed the dangers of this corridor since at least 2009. Residents voiced fear and frustration, calling drivers 'crazy' and demanding city action. The area’s councilmember, Inna Vernikov, has a record of repeated speeding violations, adding to the climate of danger. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Another Pedestrian is Dead on Brooklyn’s Dangerous Kings Highway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-13

Jan 12 - Sedan slammed into car’s rear on Ford Street. Driver, a 49-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver inattention and inexperience. No other injuries reported.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Ford Street struck the rear of another vehicle. The 49-year-old woman driving the sedan was injured, sustaining neck injuries and whiplash. She was conscious and wearing a lap belt. The report lists driver inattention and driver inexperience as contributing factors. The impact hit the center back end of the sedan and the center front end of the other vehicle. No other persons were reported injured or ejected.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4598986 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 2 - A 60-year-old woman crossing Avenue Z at East 19 Street was hit and suffered a head abrasion. She stayed conscious. No driver errors or factors listed. The crash happened at night. Vehicle details are unknown.

According to the police report, a 60-year-old female pedestrian was struck while crossing Avenue Z at East 19 Street in Brooklyn. She was crossing with the signal and suffered a head abrasion but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. The vehicle type and driver details are unspecified. No mention of helmet use or other safety equipment is made. The pedestrian’s actions are clearly stated, with no blame assigned to her.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4595701 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 22 - A 60-year-old woman crossing East 19th Street in Brooklyn was hit by a backing SUV. She suffered chest injuries but stayed conscious. The crash happened near Avenue Y, away from any intersection.

According to the police report, a male driver in a sport utility vehicle was backing northeast on East 19th Street near Avenue Y in Brooklyn when he struck a 60-year-old female pedestrian. The woman was crossing outside a crosswalk or signal and suffered internal chest injuries. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors, but the vehicle was reversing and the impact was at the SUV's center back end. The pedestrian remained conscious after the collision. No helmet or signaling issues were noted. The crash underscores the risk to pedestrians from vehicles moving in reverse.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4593104 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 9 - The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program barely touches reckless drivers. Over 22,000 cars rack up tickets, but only 630 drivers take the safety course. Just 12 vehicles seized. Most repeat offenders keep driving. The law’s weak language leaves streets exposed.

Local Law 36 of 2020 created the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program, overseen by the Department of Transportation. The law, passed October 26, 2020, aimed to educate repeat traffic offenders. It requires a course for owners with 15 speeding or 5 red-light tickets, but only if DOT chooses. As of November 28, 2022, just 630 drivers completed the course, and only 12 vehicles were seized. The law’s summary promised to 'educate vehicle owners about the dangers resulting from vehicle operators exceeding posted speed limits and failing to comply with traffic signals, including the potential to cause injury or death.' Council Member Inna Vernikov was named as an example of a driver reaching the threshold. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives called for more teeth, saying, 'new data shows a clear need for additional investments in the program to get dangerous vehicles off our streets.' The program’s weak enforcement leaves thousands of reckless drivers unpunished, endangering vulnerable road users.

• CYCLE OF RAGE: The DOT’s Reckless Driver Program Scratches the Very Outer Membrane of the Surface, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-09

Dec 7 - A 24-year-old woman was injured crossing East 23 Street at Avenue W in Brooklyn. The SUV driver disregarded traffic control and was inattentive. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. The vehicle showed no damage on impact.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old female pedestrian was crossing a marked crosswalk at East 23 Street and Avenue W in Brooklyn when she was struck by a southbound SUV. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists the contributing factors as "Traffic Control Disregarded" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction." The driver, a licensed male from New York, was going straight ahead and impacted the pedestrian with the center front end of the vehicle. The SUV sustained no damage. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but not ejected. No other factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4587727 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 26 - A sedan struck a 17-year-old female bicyclist on Emmons Avenue in Brooklyn. The cyclist suffered a head contusion but was conscious and not ejected. The driver was distracted. Both vehicles collided front to front. The cyclist wore no helmet.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Emmons Avenue collided head-on with a southbound bicycle. The bicyclist, a 17-year-old female, was injured with a head contusion but remained conscious and was not ejected. The driver of the sedan was licensed, but the bicyclist was unlicensed. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. Both vehicles impacted at their center front ends. The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4585163 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 23 - A sedan struck an e-bike traveling south on Avenue Y. The e-bike driver, a 42-year-old man, was partially ejected and suffered back injuries and bruises. The sedan’s left front bumper hit the bike’s center front end. Failure to yield caused the crash.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old male e-bike driver was injured in a collision with a 2021 Honda sedan on Avenue Y in Brooklyn. The e-bike driver was partially ejected and sustained back contusions and bruises. The sedan, traveling east, struck the e-bike on its center front end with its left front bumper. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The sedan had two occupants, and the driver was licensed. The e-bike driver’s license status is unknown. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4584287 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 7 - A 2-year-old girl was hit by an SUV while crossing Avenue U in Brooklyn. The child suffered a back contusion but remained conscious. The driver made a right turn and struck the pedestrian at a marked crosswalk. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a 2-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Avenue U in Brooklyn. The child was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal when she was struck by a 2022 Chevrolet SUV making a right turn. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front bumper. The pedestrian suffered a back contusion and was conscious at the scene. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The vehicle sustained no damage. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The report notes unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian but does not assign fault or blame.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4579665 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 4 - A man crossed Belt Parkway in a marked crosswalk. A sedan struck him. A taxi hit him next. His body broke beneath the cars. He died before dawn. Two drivers and a passenger were injured. The street stayed cold and silent.

A 58-year-old man was killed while crossing Belt Parkway in a marked crosswalk. According to the police report, a sedan struck him first, followed by a taxi. The report states, 'His body broke beneath them. He died there, before sunrise, crushed on the cold blacktop.' Two drivers, both women, and a 24-year-old female passenger suffered injuries, including head, abdomen, pelvis, and shoulder trauma. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are documented in the data. No mention of helmet use or signaling is present. The crash left one pedestrian dead and three people injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4578958 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 27 - A sedan hit an e-scooter on Voorhies Avenue. The 13-year-old e-scooter driver was ejected and injured, suffering abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. The sedan driver was licensed. Driver distraction and traffic control disregard caused the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east struck an e-scooter heading south on Voorhies Avenue. The e-scooter driver, a 13-year-old boy, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The e-scooter driver was unlicensed and not wearing safety equipment. The sedan driver was licensed and driving straight ahead. The point of impact was the right side doors of the e-scooter and the center front end of the sedan. The crash injured the young e-scooter driver but did not specify injuries to the sedan driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4577963 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 25 - Two sedans slammed together at East 21 Street and Voorhies Avenue. A front passenger took a blow to the knee and leg. Both drivers kept straight. Metal twisted. No driver errors listed.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at East 21 Street and Voorhies Avenue in Brooklyn. A 2021 Audi headed south struck a 2020 Hyundai moving west. The Audi hit with its center front end. The Hyundai took the blow on its right front bumper. The Hyundai’s front passenger, a 30-year-old man, suffered contusions and bruises to his knee and lower leg. Both drivers were licensed and driving straight. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors. The injured passenger was not ejected and stayed conscious.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4576184 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 22 - A sedan hit a 65-year-old woman crossing Avenue Z with the signal. She suffered bruises and leg injuries. The driver turned left. The car showed no damage. The woman stayed conscious after impact.

According to the police report, a 65-year-old woman was crossing Avenue Z at Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn with the signal when a northbound sedan made a left turn and struck her with its left front bumper. The pedestrian suffered contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not cite any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The vehicle showed no damage after the crash. The pedestrian remained conscious at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4588300 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 15 - Two sedans crashed on Belt Parkway at dawn. The driver merging at unsafe speed hit another sedan going straight. Both drivers suffered head contusions. The front passenger also injured. Both wore seat belts. Right front and left rear bumpers damaged.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Belt Parkway at 5:06 a.m. The driver of the 2022 Toyota was merging at unsafe speed and changed lanes unsafely, striking the 2021 Mazda traveling straight ahead. The impact occurred at the right front bumper of the Toyota and the left rear bumper of the Mazda. Both drivers and the front passenger were injured, suffering head contusions. All occupants were restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The report lists unsafe speed and unsafe lane changing as contributing factors. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4575439 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19