Ocean Hill Bleeds While Leaders Stall

May 15 - A Mercedes turned left onto Rutland Road. The car struck Maurette Lafleur, 68, in the crosswalk. Medics rushed her to the hospital. She died. The driver stayed. No charges. The street stayed open. The danger stayed.

NY Daily News reported on May 15, 2025, that Maurette Lafleur, 68, was killed while crossing Rutland Road at E. 94th St. in East Flatbush. The article states, "Maurette Lafleur was in the crosswalk...when the driver of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz slammed into her." Police said the 64-year-old driver was turning left from E. 95th St. onto Rutland Road when the crash occurred. Lafleur was transported to Kings County Hospital but could not be saved. The driver remained at the scene and faced no immediate charges. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians in marked crosswalks and raises questions about intersection safety and left-turn protocols.

• Mercedes Driver Kills Woman In Crosswalk, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-15

May 11 - Two sedans slammed together on Eastern Parkway. Passengers took the worst of it. Head injuries. Pain. Shock. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

Two sedans crashed on Eastern Parkway at Howard Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a 32-year-old rear passenger and a 38-year-old front passenger suffered head injuries and pain. Both drivers were listed as uninjured. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were detailed in the data. The crash left two passengers hurt, underscoring the risk for those riding inside. No mention of helmet or signal use appeared in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811974 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 11 - A sedan slammed into a bus on Eastern Parkway. Two drivers hurt. Police cite driver inattention and unsafe speed. The street bore the brunt. Metal twisted. Pain followed.

A sedan and a bus collided on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. Two drivers, a 21-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man, were injured. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' caused the crash. The sedan driver was unlicensed. Both vehicles suffered front-end damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811973 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 6 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

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 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 pickup and sedan crashed on Eastern Parkway. One passenger suffered a bruised arm. Police cite failure to yield. Metal struck metal. Streets stayed dangerous.

A pickup truck and a sedan collided at Eastern Parkway and Howard Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a right rear passenger in one vehicle was injured, suffering a contusion to the upper arm. Both drivers were listed as uninjured. Police cite 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor for both vehicles. The crash left a passenger hurt and exposed the ongoing risks on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809233 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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 23 - A bus strikes a man crossing Herkimer. Blood pools. Children inside sit silent. One girl clutches her head. Driver inattention leaves a pedestrian hurt and a bus full of shaken kids.

A bus traveling east on Herkimer Street near Van Sinderen Avenue struck a 44-year-old man crossing the street. According to the police report, the bus driver looked away and the right front bumper hit the pedestrian, who suffered a severe head injury and was incoherent at the scene. Inside the bus, a 12-year-old girl sustained a head injury, while other child passengers were left shaken. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807818 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Apr 23 - Taibel Brod crossed with the light. The SUV turned left, struck her. She fell. Two weeks later, she died. The driver had no license. Police charged him. The street stayed open. The city moved on.

NY Daily News reported on April 23, 2025, that Taibel Brod, 101, was killed after an SUV hit her while she crossed Montgomery St. in Crown Heights with the walk signal. The driver, Menachem Shagalow, turned left without a license and struck Brod. Police charged him with aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to exercise due care. The article quotes Brod’s son, who called the crash a "tragedy." Brod died from her injuries nearly two weeks later. The case highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians, especially from unlicensed drivers and left turns at intersections. No changes to the street were reported.

• Unlicensed SUV Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-23

Apr 21 - Ambulance hit sedan’s side on Rockaway Ave. One driver hurt, shoulder injury. Police cite failure to yield. Impact left metal twisted, pain sharp, sirens loud.

An ambulance and a sedan collided at 107 Rockaway Avenue in Brooklyn. One driver suffered a shoulder injury and reported pain and shock. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The ambulance struck the sedan’s left side as the sedan started from parking. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807289 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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

Apr 10 - A driver ran a stop sign in East New York. He slammed into a school bus. His passenger died. The bus driver was hurt. The driver fled but police caught him. The street stayed stained. The system failed to protect.

According to amNY (April 10, 2025), Tyree Epps faces charges after a deadly crash at Van Sinderen and Blake avenues. Epps, unlicensed, "blew a stop sign" and struck a school bus, killing his passenger, Imani Vance, and injuring the bus driver. The article quotes Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez: "The tragic loss of Imani Vance was allegedly caused by the defendant's reckless decision to ignore a stop sign and drive at excessive speeds." Epps left the scene, tried to escape in an Uber, and was arrested after fleeing on foot. The crash was one of three fatal Brooklyn incidents that weekend. City data cited in the article shows ongoing danger: at least 15 killed in Kings County so far this year, with thousands injured, often due to driver inattention and failure to yield. The charges and details highlight persistent risks and enforcement gaps on city streets.

• Brooklyn Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, amny, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 10 - Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 10 - Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 9 - A driver ran a stop sign in East New York. He slammed into a school bus. His passenger died. The bus driver was hurt. The driver fled in an Uber. Police caught him soon after. Streets remain unforgiving.

Gothamist (April 9, 2025) reports that Tyree Epps, 32, was indicted after allegedly running a stop sign and crashing into a school bus in East New York, Brooklyn. The February collision killed his 26-year-old passenger, Imani Vance, and injured the bus driver. According to the Brooklyn DA, Epps "ignored a stop sign and drove at excessive speeds," then left the scene by calling an Uber, abandoning his injured passenger. The impact pushed the bus into a third, empty vehicle. No children on the bus were harmed. Epps was apprehended after fleeing on foot. The case highlights persistent dangers at intersections and the lethal consequences of ignoring traffic controls.

• Brooklyn Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, Gothamist, Published 2025-04-09

Apr 4 - A pickup turns left on Mac Donough. Its bumper hits a woman in the crosswalk. She is conscious, abdomen bruised. The truck failed to yield. The street holds the sound of pain.

A pickup truck making a left turn on Mac Donough Street in Brooklyn struck a 56-year-old woman as she crossed in a marked crosswalk. According to the police report, the right front bumper hit the pedestrian, leaving her conscious but with bruising to her abdomen. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The driver, a 35-year-old man, was licensed and uninjured. The woman was hurt while crossing with no signal present. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to yield to people in crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804793 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Apr 2 - A car plowed through families on Ocean Parkway. Three killed. Survivors hurt, shaken, haunted. The driver had a suspended license, dozens of violations, unpaid fines. The city’s streets failed to protect the most vulnerable. Pain lingers. Justice waits.

ABC7 reported on April 2, 2025, that a crash in Brooklyn killed a mother and her two daughters, leaving another family injured and traumatized. The article states, “Shakhzod described ongoing back pain and fears of another accident.” The driver, Miriam Yarimi, had 93 violations, $10,000 in unpaid fines, and a suspended license. She struck an Uber, then hit families crossing Ocean Parkway, flipping her vehicle. Yarimi faces charges including manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. The crash exposes systemic failure: a driver with a long record remained on the road. Survivors suffer lasting physical and emotional wounds. The city’s enforcement and oversight remain under scrutiny.

• Brooklyn Crash Leaves Family Scarred, Three Dead, ABC7, Published 2025-04-02

Apr 1 - A sedan hit an 18-year-old pedestrian crossing Rockaway Avenue. The impact left him in shock, pain coursing through his body. Failure to yield turned the street into a danger zone.

An 18-year-old man was injured when a sedan struck him as he crossed Rockaway Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:50 p.m. The pedestrian suffered pain and shock, with injuries to his entire body. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The driver was traveling south and going straight ahead at the time of the collision. The pedestrian was not at an intersection or marked crosswalk. No other contributing factors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802932 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04