Utica, Church, Linden: a body count and a clock

Jul 17 - A Ford SUV hit a man crossing Church Avenue. The pedestrian died from head injuries. Alcohol played a role. The crash left pain and loss on Brooklyn pavement.

A Ford SUV traveling east on Church Avenue struck a 36-year-old man crossing at the intersection. The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. According to the police report, 'Alcohol Involvement' was a contributing factor in the crash. The driver and several occupants were uninjured. The report lists no other driver errors. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal, but the primary factor cited is alcohol involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828979 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 15 - A car spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The driver lost control. The machine struck Madison Ruiz as she sat by the curb. She died at the hospital. The driver faces criminal charges.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-15), Madison Ruiz, 21, was killed when Zachary Cando, 24, lost control of a Genesis G80 while 'doing donuts' in a Gateway Plaza parking lot. The article states Cando 'lost control' and struck Ruiz as she sat by the curb. Police charged Cando with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The incident highlights the risks of reckless driving in public spaces and raises questions about parking lot safety and enforcement.

• Driver Doing Donuts Kills Brooklyn Woman, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-15

Jul 12 - Two SUVs crashed on Utica Avenue. Four people suffered whiplash and back injuries. Police cite traffic control disregarded. Metal twisted. Bodies jolted. Brooklyn street, morning chaos.

Two SUVs collided at Utica Avenue and Lenox Road in Brooklyn. Four occupants, including drivers and passengers, were injured with whiplash and back pain. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors. The impact left several with injuries, but all were conscious at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827228 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 10 - A moped struck a 90-year-old man in Brooklyn. The driver fled. The man died at the hospital. Security video captured the impact. The street claimed another life.

CBS New York (2025-07-10) reports a 90-year-old man died after a moped hit-and-run in Brooklyn. Security footage 'shows the moment the man was struck.' The driver left the scene. The victim died at the hospital. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians and the ongoing danger of drivers who flee. No policy changes or arrests were reported.

• Elderly Man Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-10

Jul 9 - A moped struck a 90-year-old man crossing in Sheepshead Bay. The rider looked away, hit the man, paused, then fled. The victim lay motionless. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital. He died from his injuries.

ABC7 reported on July 9, 2025, that Zhuo Xie, 90, was killed crossing East 14th Street and Avenue U in Brooklyn. The article states, "a man riding a blue moped slammed into Xie and both men fell to the ground." Surveillance video showed the moped rider looking left, not ahead, before impact. The driver checked on Xie, then left the scene. Police said the moped had a green light, but the rider's inattention and failure to remain highlight systemic dangers for pedestrians. The incident underscores risks at intersections and the consequences of hit-and-run crashes.

• Moped Hits Elderly Pedestrian, Flees Scene, ABC7, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 1 - A judge paused city plans to cut a protected bike lane after children were struck crossing. The lane, built after five pedestrian crashes, stays for now. Streets wait. Danger lingers.

NY1 reported on July 1, 2025, that a judge halted the city's move to remove a three-block section of the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane. The city acted after 'incidents of children exiting school buses, crossing into the lane, and being hit by bikes.' The lane, stretching over two miles, was installed in 2024 following 'years of advocacy and five pedestrian incidents.' The hearing highlights ongoing conflict between street safety for cyclists and pedestrians, and the city's rapid policy shifts in response to crashes.

• Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Faces Review, NY1, Published 2025-07-01

Jun 30 - A motorcycle slammed into sedans on Utica Avenue. One rider was ejected and injured. Driver inexperience and reaction to another vehicle played a role. The street bore the scars.

A crash at 837 Utica Avenue in Brooklyn involved a motorcycle and two sedans. One 22-year-old male motorcycle driver was ejected and injured, suffering abrasions to his arm. According to the police report, 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Driver Inexperience' contributed to the collision. The motorcycle driver was unlicensed. No pedestrians were involved. The report lists no other injuries. The crash highlights the danger when inexperience and sudden reactions collide on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824267 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 29 - An eight-year-old boy died after a Honda SUV struck him at Eastern Parkway and Albany Ave. He was dragged under the car. Blood pooled. His sister watched. The driver stayed. No arrest. The city investigates.

NY Daily News (2025-06-29) reports an 8-year-old boy was fatally struck by a 69-year-old Honda Pilot driver at Eastern Parkway and Albany Ave. in Brooklyn. The boy was crossing when hit; witnesses saw him dragged from under the SUV. The article quotes, "I saw the kid being dragged from underneath the car by a woman." The driver remained at the scene. No arrests were made. NYPD Collision Squad investigates. The crash highlights persistent dangers at city intersections and the lethal risk large vehicles pose to children.

• Child Killed By SUV In Crown Heights, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-29

Jun 28 - A Ford sedan hit a 31-year-old woman crossing Clarkson Ave with the signal. She suffered leg and internal injuries. The car struck her at the intersection’s center front end.

A Ford sedan traveling southeast on Clarkson Ave struck a 31-year-old woman as she crossed at the intersection with Schenectady Ave. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the sedan, making a left turn, hit her with its center front end. The woman sustained knee, lower leg, foot, and internal injuries. No driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The data does not mention helmet or signal use as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824619 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 26 - Zohran Mamdani beat Andrew Cuomo for the Democratic mayoral nod. He vows faster buses, more bike lanes, and car-free space. Streets remain deadly. Change hinges on action.

Bill number not assigned. On June 26, 2025, Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary for NYC mayor. The matter, as reported by Sophia Lebowitz, states Mamdani's platform: 'make buses fast and free, add more protected bike lanes, and increase car-free public space.' Mamdani promises political will for proven safety measures. No specific legislation or committee action yet. The safety analyst notes: 'The event describes a political nomination outcome without reference to any specific transportation policy or legislation, so it has no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.'

• Here’s What Mamdani Can Steal From Other Candidates To Strengthen His Livable Streets Platform, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-26

Jun 23 - Two SUVs slammed together on Utica Avenue. One driver suffered back injuries. Police cite driver distraction. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

Two station wagons, both SUVs, crashed on Utica Avenue at Clarkson Avenue in Brooklyn. One driver, a 55-year-old man, was injured in the back. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was the contributing factor. The impact struck the center back end of one SUV and the center front end of the other. Other occupants, including a 64-year-old front passenger, were listed with unspecified injuries. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the ongoing danger of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822732 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 19 - Streetsblog gathered street-safety leaders. They ranked mayoral candidates by their promises for safer streets. No council action. No new law. Just a sharp look at who stands with people, not cars. The city’s future rides on these choices.

On June 19, 2025, Streetsblog NYC published 'Streetsblog Celebrities Reveal Their Mayoral Rankings!' The article asked, 'Who did the legends of the livable streets movement rank for mayor?' and used a ranked-choice simulator to show results. No council bill, vote, or committee action took place. No council members were involved. Instead, advocates like Zohran Mamdani, Brad Lander, Zellnor Myrie, Adrienne Adams, Michael Blake, and Scott Stringer ranked candidates based on their records and promises for safer streets. Streetsblog made no endorsements. According to safety analysts, this event did not create any policy or legislative change for pedestrian or cyclist safety. It simply revealed which candidates street-safety advocates trust to protect vulnerable road users.

• Streetsblog Celebrities Reveal Their Mayoral Rankings!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-19

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 16 - White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

Jun 16 - Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

Jun 16 - Andrew Cuomo’s car got two more speed-camera tickets. That makes four in three months. Each violation happened near Brooklyn schools. Cuomo’s team paid the fines. Leaders who speed endanger walkers and riders. Streets stay deadly when the powerful ignore the law.

On June 16, 2025, Streetsblog NYC reported that former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s car received two new speed-camera tickets, bringing the total to four in three months. The article states: "The car is driven by multiple people, all of whom have been reminded to obey the speed limit, and there are no outstanding tickets." Cuomo’s spokesperson, Esther Jensen, noted his past support for speed cameras. Mayoral rival Brad Lander and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani criticized Cuomo’s record, calling his driving 'reckless and unlawful.' Zellnor Myrie’s spokesperson, Julia Rose, said Cuomo acts above the law. The safety analyst notes: this event describes an individual's driving and parking behavior but does not constitute a policy change or legislation affecting population-level safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

• No Mo, Cuomo! Scofflaw Ex-Gov. Caught Speeding Two More Times, Bringing Total to 4 Tix in 3 Months, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-16

Jun 16 - State Senator Zellnor Myrie biked Brooklyn streets with reporter Dave Colon. He saw blocked lanes, heavy traffic, and real risk. Myrie called out the dangers for new cyclists. He backed safer bike lanes and fewer cars. The ride changed nothing systemic.

On June 16, 2025, State Senator Zellnor Myrie joined reporter Dave Colon for a bike ride through Brooklyn, as covered by Streetsblog NYC. The event was not a formal bill or committee action, but a public statement on street safety. Myrie said, "We should be making this as easy as possible and as safe as possible for as many people as possible." He highlighted blocked bike lanes, rising injuries, and the lack of protected infrastructure. Myrie voiced support for congestion pricing, safer streets, and reducing car dependency. The safety impact is neutral: a senator riding a bike is symbolic and does not directly change safety outcomes for pedestrians or cyclists.

• The Dave Colon Challenge: Zellnor Myrie Wants His Own Bike Now, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-16