Ocean Hill Bleeds While Leaders Stall

An Audi driver with a suspended license turned at a red. She struck a family crossing Ocean Parkway. A mother and two daughters died. Their son fights for life. Another family in a hit car suffered minor wounds. Streets remain unforgiving.

Gothamist reported on March 29, 2025, that a mother and her two daughters were killed when an Audi A3, driven by Miriam Yarimi, turned right on red and struck them in Midwood, Brooklyn. Police said Yarimi’s license was suspended. The car first hit a Toyota Camry, then continued forward, hitting the family in the crosswalk. The article quotes NYPD Commissioner Tisch: 'This was a horrific tragedy caused by someone who shouldn't have been on the road.' Yarimi faces multiple charges, including manslaughter and aggravated unlicensed operation. The crash left a young boy in critical condition and injured another family. The incident highlights the dangers of unlicensed driving and the risks at busy intersections.

• Suspended Driver Kills Brooklyn Family, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-29

Two sedans slammed together on Atlantic Avenue. The blow hit one car’s rear, the other’s front. A 24-year-old driver took the worst of it—back hurt, shaken, strapped in tight.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling westbound collided on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn at 21:55. The Tesla’s center back end was struck; the Jeep hit with its center front. The 24-year-old male Tesla driver suffered back injuries and shock. He wore a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors. No driver errors like failure to yield or speeding are named. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left the Tesla driver injured, underscoring the force of car-on-car impacts.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801045 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Luis Cruz stepped from his car. An e-bike delivery worker flew through a stop sign. The crash was sudden. Cruz died on the street. The rider stayed. The intersection is known for danger. Delivery speed and city policy collide.

Gothamist reported on March 23, 2025, that Luis Cruz, 49, died after being struck by an e-bike delivery worker who "sped through a stop sign" at Franklin and India streets in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Witness Jack Collins said, "He died basically on the spot." The e-bike rider remained at the scene; no arrests were made as the investigation continued. The article notes that the intersection is a known trouble spot, with Collins stating, "It's not a unicorn incident. It's happened a lot." The report highlights systemic issues: delivery app pressures, lack of regulation, and a street design that encourages risky moves. City data shows e-bikes account for a small share of traffic deaths, but the policy debate continues.

• E-Bike Rider Runs Stop, Kills Man, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-23

An SUV making a left turn collided with a taxi traveling straight on Ralph Ave in Brooklyn. The impact struck the taxi’s left side doors. Both drivers and a child passenger suffered injuries, including back and hip pain, and were left in shock.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Ralph Ave in Brooklyn at 17:27. The SUV, driven by a licensed female driver traveling south, was making a left turn when it struck a southbound taxi going straight ahead. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the SUV against the left side doors of the taxi. The taxi driver, a 37-year-old male, and a 10-year-old female passenger in the taxi were injured, sustaining back and hip-upper leg injuries respectively, both experiencing shock and complaints of pain or nausea. The report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, but the SUV driver's left turn into the path of the taxi was the critical action leading to the collision. Both injured occupants were restrained with lap belts and were not ejected.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797743 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV struck taxi’s rear on Atlantic Avenue. Driver inattention listed as cause. Left rear SUV passenger, a woman, suffered facial injuries and shock. Both vehicles damaged. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

According to the police report, an SUV hit the back of a taxi on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn at 18:50. Both vehicles were heading west. The SUV’s left front bumper struck the taxi’s center rear. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main factor, listed twice. A 43-year-old woman riding in the SUV’s left rear seat was injured in the face and suffered shock. She was not ejected. No other contributing factors or victim actions are noted. The crash left both vehicles damaged at the points of impact, showing the force and danger when drivers lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797211 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A driver out on bail smashed into a Toyota in Bushwick. The crash killed Hayden Wallace and injured three others. The driver fled, leaving chaos behind. Police tracked him for over a year. Charges stack up, but the loss remains.

NY Daily News (March 8, 2025) reports that Christopher Seabrook, 28, was arrested after a deadly hit-and-run in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Seabrook had been out on bail for a previous crash involving police. On January 8, 2024, he crashed into a Toyota, killing Hayden Wallace and injuring three others. Seabrook fled the scene, abandoning his vehicle. The article notes, "All accidents are useless but this one was even more useless because [Seabrook] had so many other offenses." Seabrook faces 23 charges, including manslaughter, leaving the scene, unlicensed driving, and speeding. The case highlights repeated driver offenses and questions about bail and enforcement. Police needed over a year to arrest Seabrook, who had a history of fleeing crashes and driving without a license.

• Repeat Offender Kills Passenger In Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-08

A van driven without a license struck the left side of a sedan traveling south on Dean Street in Brooklyn. The sedan’s female driver suffered neck injuries and shock. The crash involved a disregard of traffic control, according to the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Dean Street near Saratoga Avenue in Brooklyn at 4 p.m. A van, driven eastbound by an unlicensed male driver, collided with the left side doors of a southbound BMW sedan. The sedan’s female driver, who was properly licensed and restrained with a lap belt, sustained neck injuries and was in shock. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, highlighting driver error by the van operator. Vehicle damage was concentrated on the left side of the van and the center front end of the sedan. No contributing factors related to the sedan driver were noted. This collision underscores the dangers posed by unlicensed drivers and failure to obey traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796345 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A dump truck turned right on Withers Street. The driver hit a man crouched for food. The man died at Elmhurst Hospital. The driver fled. Police are still searching. Brooklyn’s streets remain deadly for those on foot.

Gothamist reported on March 3, 2025, that a dump truck driver fatally struck a man in his 20s on Withers Street near Woodpoint Road, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The man was kneeling in the street to pick up food when the truck, turning right, hit him. According to police, 'the driver, a 49-year-old man, left the scene.' The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. No arrests have been made. The article notes this was one of several fatal crashes in Brooklyn that week, highlighting persistent dangers for pedestrians. NYPD data shows at least 10 traffic deaths in Brooklyn so far this year, matching last year’s pace. The driver’s failure to remain at the scene underscores ongoing issues with hit-and-runs and enforcement.

• Dump Truck Kills Pedestrian in Williamsburg, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-03

A man sped through a stop sign in Brownsville. His Mercedes hit a school bus. His passenger died. He ran from the wreck in a taxi. Police found him later. The victim’s family mourns. The street remains unchanged.

NY Daily News reported on March 2, 2025, that Tyree Epps, 32, drove a Mercedes-Benz without a license, ran a stop sign on Van Sinderen Ave, and crashed into a school bus. The article states, “After the crash, Epps hopped in a taxi and took off, leaving his 26-year-old passenger, Imani Vance, in the front seat suffering severe head trauma.” Epps faces charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene, and unlicensed driving. The bus driver survived. The crash exposes ongoing risks from unlicensed, reckless drivers and the persistent danger at city intersections. The victim’s family is left to grieve and organize a funeral, while the intersection remains a site of loss.

• Unlicensed Driver Flees Fatal Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-02

A Kia slammed into a Toyota on Stockholm Street. Hayden Wallace, 29, died. Two friends survived with critical wounds. The driver fled. Police arrested Christopher Seabrook. The crash left a new life cut short, a city shaken.

According to the NY Daily News (published March 1, 2025), Christopher Seabrook, 28, was arrested for the hit-and-run crash that killed Hayden Wallace, 29, in Bushwick on January 8, 2024. Seabrook allegedly crashed a Kia Sportage into a Toyota Yaris carrying Wallace and friends, then fled the scene on foot. Wallace died; two others were critically injured. The Toyota’s driver was also charged with driving without a license. Seabrook faces charges including manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and leaving the scene. The article quotes Wallace’s aunt: “He lived life to the fullest. He was only 29 years old and lit up every room he entered.” The case highlights the deadly consequences of reckless driving and fleeing crash scenes in New York City.

• Bushwick Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-01

Council slashed parking mandates in transit-rich zones. Mandates linger in outer areas. Progress, but not full victory. Some districts carved out exceptions. Housing and parking no longer clash in core neighborhoods. Vulnerable road users still face cars in many places.

""A spokesperson for Council Member Sandy Nurse (D Brownsville) said her entire district is in the 'outer transit zone' because the Council's 'compromise [was] shaped by amendments from our district’s community boards.' 'It wasn't something that was pushed for specifically by Council Member Nurse,' spokesperson Patricia Santana told Streetsblog." -- Sandy Nurse

On February 26, 2025, the City Council approved Mayor Adams's 'City of Yes' rezoning. The bill divided the city into zones: the Manhattan core, an inner transit zone with no parking mandates, an outer transit zone with reduced mandates, and areas beyond where mandates mostly remain. The matter summary states, 'The final plan did not eliminate parking mandates citywide but divided the city into zones.' Council Member Crystal Hudson pushed to eliminate mandates in all her districts. Council Member Shahana Hanif opposed carve-outs. Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez called parking mandates 'a concession to cars that we don’t need and can’t afford.' Council Member Sandy Nurse’s district saw mandates shaped by community board amendments, not her advocacy. Dan Garodnick, Department of City Planning chair, said, 'parking and housing are no longer coming into conflict in the parts of New York City that are well-served by transit.' The bill passed after compromises, leaving mandates in some areas and progress in others. No direct safety impact assessment was provided.

• ‘City of … Sort Of’: How Do The ‘Outer Transit Zone’ Parking Mandate Reductions Work?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-26

An e-scooter driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a collision with a vehicle making a left turn on Thomas S Boyland St. The driver was partially ejected and sustained abrasions, with police citing driver inattention as a key factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred around 5 p.m. on Thomas S Boyland St in Brooklyn. The e-scooter driver, a 31-year-old male wearing a helmet, was traveling north when a vehicle also traveling north made a left turn, resulting in a collision. The point of impact was the left side doors of the turning vehicle and the center front end of the e-scooter. The e-scooter driver was partially ejected and sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3, including abrasions. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. No damage was reported to either vehicle. The incident highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction during turning maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793923 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A northbound sedan making a left turn collided with a southbound bicyclist going straight on Rockaway Ave in Brooklyn. The bicyclist suffered facial contusions and bruises but was conscious and not ejected. The sedan sustained front-end damage.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old male bicyclist traveling southbound on Rockaway Ave was struck on his left side doors by a northbound sedan making a left turn. The sedan's center front end was the point of impact, causing damage to the vehicle's front. The bicyclist sustained facial contusions and bruises and was conscious after the crash. The report lists the bicyclist's contributing factors as unspecified but does not attribute any specific fault or error to him. The sedan driver was licensed and operating the vehicle during the left turn maneuver. The collision highlights the dangers posed by turning vehicles to bicyclists traveling straight through intersections. No helmet or other safety equipment was reported for the bicyclist, but no contributing factor was assigned to that. The report does not specify driver errors such as failure to yield, but the left turn by the sedan into the bicyclist's path was the critical event.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793805 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A westbound car hit a 42-year-old man near Eastern Parkway. He lay semiconscious, blood pooling from his head. No crosswalk, no warning, just the sudden violence of metal against flesh and the silence that followed.

A 42-year-old man was struck by a westbound car on St. Johns Place near Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The report describes the man lying semiconscious on the pavement, bleeding from the head after being hit by the vehicle's left front bumper. The incident occurred at 20:56. The police report notes, 'No crosswalk. No warning. Just blood on the road and silence.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection when struck. No contributing factors or vehicle types were listed in the police report, and no driver actions are specified. The report does not indicate any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the impact and the severe injury suffered by the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793922 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW X5 veered off Belt Parkway near Exit 14. The SUV struck a tree. Marcus Joseph, 41, died at the scene. No passengers. No bystanders hurt. The crash left only silence and wreckage on the Brooklyn road.

NY Daily News (2025-02-18) reports Marcus Joseph, 41, died after his BMW X5 spun out of control on the Belt Parkway near Exit 14 in Starrett City, Brooklyn. Police said the SUV 'skidded off the road and slammed into a tree.' Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The article does not mention weather or road conditions. The incident highlights the dangers of high-speed corridors like the Belt Parkway, where loss of control can prove fatal. No charges were filed. The report underscores the persistent risks for all road users on New York City highways.

• BMW Skids, Slams Tree On Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-18

Senators move to guard bike lanes. Cameras will catch drivers who block or invade. The city’s cyclists and walkers get a shot at safer streets. No more hiding behind the wheel.

Senate bill S 5008, now in sponsorship, aims to launch a bicycle lane safety program in New York City. The bill, introduced February 18, 2025, sits in committee. Its summary reads: 'Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and/or protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal leads, joined by Jabari Brisport, Kristen Gonzalez, Liz Krueger, Jessica Ramos, and Julia Salazar. The bill targets drivers who block or misuse bike lanes, using cameras to enforce the rules. The move puts pressure on the city to protect cyclists and pedestrians from daily danger.

• File S 5008, Open States, Published 2025-02-18

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

A 61-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck by a sedan making a right turn. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing facial abrasions. The pedestrian remained conscious despite the impact at a Brooklyn intersection.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Saratoga Avenue in Brooklyn failed to yield right-of-way while making a right turn. The vehicle's right front bumper struck a 61-year-old female pedestrian who was crossing the street with the signal at the intersection near Prospect Place. The pedestrian sustained facial abrasions and was injured but remained conscious. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the crash. The vehicle sustained no damage, indicating a low-speed impact. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal is noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The driver was licensed and operating a 2011 Nissan sedan. This incident highlights the dangers posed by driver failure to yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790376 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Transit advocates and officials rallied at Grand Central. They demanded Governor Hochul fill a $33 billion gap in the MTA capital plan. Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal called transit vital for the region. Advocates stressed accessibility and equity. The state’s budget leaves riders exposed.

On February 2, 2025, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal joined transit advocates at Grand Central Terminal to push for full funding of the MTA’s 2025-2029 capital plan. The rally targeted Governor Hochul’s $252 billion budget, which omits $33 billion needed for transit upgrades. The event, covered by amny.com, highlighted the matter: 'NYC transit advocates urge Hochul to fully fund MTA Capital Plan with guaranteed state budget revenue.' Hoylman-Sigal said, 'This is about the economic engine for the entire region.' Assembly Member Tony Simone and others demanded investment in transportation deserts and accessible stations. Advocates cited the MTA’s ADA settlement, noting only a quarter of stations are wheelchair-accessible, with the fewest in low-income areas. The rally underscored that without full funding, vulnerable riders—especially those with disabilities—face continued barriers and danger.

• NYC transit advocates urge Hochul to fully fund MTA Capital Plan with guaranteed state budget revenue, amny.com, Published 2025-02-02