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

Jan 28 - A sedan and SUV slammed together on Church Avenue. The front passenger in the sedan took a blow to the chest. Metal twisted. No pedestrians or cyclists hurt. Impact was direct and violent.

According to the police report, a sedan and an SUV collided at 16:45 on Church Avenue in Brooklyn. Both vehicles were moving straight when they struck, the sedan hit in the center front, the SUV on the left front bumper. The front passenger in the sedan, a 30-year-old woman, suffered chest contusions but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists unspecified contributing factors and does not cite any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The force of the crash left the passenger injured, showing the violence of the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788968 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 26 - A cargo van turned left on Cropsey Avenue. It struck Mayya Gil, 95, and her aide. Gil died. The aide survived. No charges for the driver. Another senior lost to city traffic. The street remains dangerous for the old and frail.

Gothamist (2025-01-26) reports that Mayya Gil, 95, was killed while crossing Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn with her home health aide. According to the NYPD, 'a man driving a cargo van struck both of them while making a left turn.' Gil died from her injuries; her aide was hospitalized. Police did not arrest or charge the driver. The article notes that Gil was the second elderly pedestrian killed in Brooklyn this year, and cites Transportation Alternatives: '46 senior pedestrians were killed in car crashes across the city last year.' The crash highlights the ongoing risk seniors face on city streets, especially at intersections where turning vehicles endanger those crossing on foot.

• Elderly Woman Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-01-26

Jan 25 - A Honda sedan, moving south on Kings Highway, struck a man in the crosswalk. The impact shattered his skull. He died on the pavement, headlights burning above, metal cooling in the Brooklyn night.

A man was killed when a southbound Honda sedan struck him head-on at the intersection of Kings Highway and Church Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the collision occurred. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor on the part of the driver. The impact was severe, with the victim suffering fatal head injuries and dying at the scene. The vehicle's point of impact was the center front end, and damage was noted on the left front bumper. The police report also lists 'Unspecified' as an additional contributing factor. While the pedestrian's action of crossing against the signal is noted, the primary focus remains on the driver's unsafe speed as a critical factor in this fatal crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788144 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 23 - Council wants every cyclist in New York to wear a helmet. No helmet, pay a $50 fine. The bill targets riders not already covered by other laws. Debate now sits with the transportation committee.

Bill Int 1173-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced January 23, 2025. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams leads as primary sponsor, joined by Council Members Holden, Vernikov, Narcisse, Moya, Schulman, Louis, Hanks, Brannan, and Zhuang. The measure would fine cyclists up to $50 for riding without a helmet, unless already required by other laws. The bill awaits further action in committee.

• File Int 1173-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-23

Jan 22 - SUV hit a woman crossing with the signal in Brooklyn. She suffered full-body injuries and shock. No vehicle damage. Driver turned left. Police list no driver errors. System failed to protect her.

According to the police report, a 34-year-old woman was struck by a 2017 SUV while crossing Winthrop Street at East 52nd Street in Brooklyn at 7:50 AM. She was crossing with the signal when the southbound SUV made a left turn and hit her. The pedestrian suffered injuries to her entire body and was in shock. The report notes no visible complaints and no vehicle damage. Police did not cite any driver errors or contributing factors. The data shows the pedestrian followed the law, yet was still injured by a turning vehicle. The report highlights the persistent risk faced by pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788634 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 20 - A 27-year-old male driver suffered head injuries and shock in a multi-vehicle crash on Lenox Rd, Brooklyn. The collision involved multiple sedans, with unsafe speed and other vehicular factors cited by police. The driver was restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Lenox Rd in Brooklyn at 12:45. The injured party was a 27-year-old male driver who sustained head injuries and was in shock. He was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected from the vehicle. The collision involved multiple sedans, with impact points including left front bumper and center front end damage. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and multiple 'Other Vehicular' factors as contributing causes, indicating driver errors. The injured driver complained of pain and nausea. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved or cited. The report highlights driver-related factors as the cause, with no victim fault mentioned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787364 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 13 - Senate bill S 1675 would force carmakers to face the facts. Every vehicle gets a pedestrian safety score. The public sees it. No more hiding danger behind steel and glass.

Senate bill S 1675, now at the sponsorship stage, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed January 13, 2025, it aims to 'create a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles which shall be posted on the department of motor vehicles' website.' Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Leroy Comrie, Michael Gianaris, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, Zellnor Myrie, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Luis R. Sepúlveda, and Toby Ann Stavisky. The bill demands transparency. It would show the public which cars endanger walkers and which spare them. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the intent is clear: expose the risk, protect the vulnerable.

• File S 1675, Open States, Published 2025-01-13

Jan 8 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly crossings for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 8 - Senate bill S 131 demands complete street design for state-funded projects. Sponsors push for safer roads. Guidance will go public. Streets could change. Pedestrians and cyclists stand to gain.

Senate bill S 131 was introduced on January 8, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding,' aims to force safer street planning. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan leads, joined by co-sponsors Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, Samra Brouk, Cordell Cleare, Leroy Comrie, Jeremy Cooney, Nathalia Fernandez, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Robert Jackson, Rachel May, Kevin S. Parker, Christopher Ryan, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill also orders the department to publish guidance on street design. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 131, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 4 - Southbound Infiniti struck a 31-year-old cyclist on Albany Avenue. Metal tore flesh. Shoulder crushed. Darkness swallowed the scene. Traffic control disregarded. The cyclist stayed conscious, pain radiating in the quiet Brooklyn night.

A 31-year-old man riding a bike was struck by the right front bumper of a southbound Infiniti sedan on Albany Avenue near Clarkson Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:19 a.m. and involved a clear violation: 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' The report states, 'A man on a bike, 31, struck by the right front bumper of a southbound Infiniti. Shoulder crushed. He stayed conscious. Traffic control ignored.' The cyclist suffered crush injuries to his upper arm and shoulder but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists no contributing factors for the cyclist, placing the cause squarely on the driver’s failure to obey traffic control. The impact left the street quiet, the danger unaddressed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784013 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 1 - A white Audi struck Michael Foster on Caton Avenue. The car dragged him for blocks. The driver never stopped. Foster died in the street. The Audi vanished into the night. No arrests. The city’s danger stays.

NY Daily News reported on January 1, 2025, that Michael Foster, 64, was killed after a white Audi hit him on Caton Ave. near Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn. The driver, described as speeding, dragged Foster for half a mile before leaving him near Linden Blvd. and Nostrand Ave. The article quotes a witness: "I saw him at the stop light. He would go out to the cars and beg for change." The driver fled the scene and has not been caught. No arrests have been made. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians in city streets and the ongoing issue of hit-and-run drivers evading responsibility.

• Audi Driver Drags Man Half Mile, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-01

Dec 22 - A 23-year-old e-scooter driver was injured after a station wagon struck him on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn. The impact ejected the rider, causing neck trauma and whiplash. Police cited failure to yield and disregarded traffic control as key factors.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at 17:30 on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn involving a station wagon and an e-scooter. The e-scooter driver, a 23-year-old male, was ejected upon impact and suffered a neck injury classified as severity level 3, including whiplash. The station wagon was traveling west, striking the e-scooter on its left front bumper, while the e-scooter was moving north. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors attributed to the station wagon driver. The e-scooter rider was conscious but injured. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver errors in yielding and obeying traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781204 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 18 - Metal groaned on Nostrand Avenue. Two cars trapped, one stacked atop the other. A bus driver, a woman, a girl—hurt but alive. Emergency crews worked fast. The street bore the scars. The cause stayed hidden in the wreckage.

NY Daily News reported on December 18, 2024, that a multi-vehicle crash at Nostrand Ave. and Park Ave. in Brooklyn left three people injured. The article states, 'Three people were injured, including an MTA bus driver and a young girl, in a collision that pinned two cars between a box truck and a city bus.' Footage showed two vehicles sandwiched between the bus and truck, with one car stacked atop another. The injured included a 59-year-old MTA driver, a 33-year-old woman, and a 9-year-old girl. All were hospitalized in stable condition. The cause of the crash was not determined at the time of reporting. The incident highlights the risks at busy intersections and the dangers posed by large vehicles in dense urban traffic.

• Cars Crushed Between Bus And Truck, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-18

Dec 17 - A sedan traveling west rear-ended a stopped garbage truck on Snyder Avenue in Brooklyn. The sedan driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash, as did the front passenger. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors.

According to the police report, at 7:07 AM on Snyder Avenue in Brooklyn, a 2010 Honda sedan traveling west rear-ended a stopped 2024 Mack garbage truck. The sedan's driver, a 38-year-old male, was injured with neck pain and whiplash, remaining conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The front passenger, a 40-year-old male, also sustained head injuries and whiplash. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor for the sedan driver. The garbage truck was stopped in traffic and sustained no damage. The collision impact was centered on the front end of the sedan and the rear center of the truck. Both vehicles were occupied by licensed male drivers. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The crash highlights the systemic danger posed by driver distraction leading to rear-end collisions in traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779636 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 6 - A 9-year-old boy crossing East 54th Street was hit by a southbound vehicle. He suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. Police cite unspecified driver error. The child was left in shock.

According to the police report, a 9-year-old male pedestrian was struck while crossing East 54th Street in Brooklyn at 14:20. The child was not at an intersection or crosswalk. He suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and complained of pain and nausea. The vehicle was traveling south, going straight ahead. The police report lists unspecified contributing factors, indicating driver error played a role in the crash. The child was left in shock after the collision. No pedestrian actions were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778058 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 5 - Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

Dec 4 - A 20-year-old woman crossing with the signal on Clarkson Avenue suffered hip and leg injuries. She was left in shock. No driver errors or vehicle details were listed in the police report.

According to the police report, a 20-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Clarkson Avenue at East 56th Street in Brooklyn at 1:50 PM. She was crossing with the signal when a vehicle struck her, causing injuries to her hip and upper leg and leaving her in shock. The report does not specify any contributing factors or driver errors. No information about the vehicle or driver is provided. The absence of listed driver actions leaves the cause unaddressed in the official record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777396 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 4 - A bus struck the rear of an SUV on Linden Blvd in Brooklyn. The SUV driver, a 56-year-old man, suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cite the bus driver’s failure to maintain safe distance as the cause of the crash.

According to the police report, a bus traveling westbound on Linden Blvd rear-ended a slowing or stopping SUV also heading west. The impact occurred at the center front end of the bus and the center back end of the SUV. The SUV driver, a 56-year-old male occupant, was injured with back pain and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The report identifies the bus driver’s error as "Following Too Closely," a failure to maintain a safe distance behind the SUV. Both drivers were licensed, and the SUV driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The crash highlights the dangers of tailgating by large vehicles in Brooklyn traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776284 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 4 - DOT built just 5.3 miles of new bus lanes in 2024. The law demands 30. Commissioner Rodriguez called it a great job. Critics slammed the city for falling short. Riders wait. Streets stay clogged. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

On December 4, 2024, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez defended the agency’s bus lane record before critics. The Streets Master Plan requires 30 new miles of bus lanes each year. In 2024, DOT delivered only 5.3 miles—just 17 percent of the legal mandate. Rodriguez claimed, “We are doing a great job,” citing national comparisons and blaming delays on community board processes and local opposition, especially around the 96th Street project. State Sen. Jessica Ramos, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, and State Sen. Zellnor Myrie condemned the city’s self-praise and legal failure. The matter title reads: ‘We Are Doing A Great Job’ … Falling Short of Bus Lane Requirement. Several projects are planned for 2025, but completion is uncertain. The city’s slow pace leaves bus riders and other vulnerable road users exposed to dangerous, congested streets.

• DOT Commish: ‘We Are Doing A Great Job’ … Falling Short of Bus Lane Requirement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-04

Dec 3 - Six mayoral hopefuls faced off on transit. They promised bus lanes, free buses, and fair fares. Each slammed the mayor’s record. They called for less fare enforcement, more service. Riders, not drivers, took center stage. Words flew. Streets stayed dangerous.

On December 3, 2024, six candidates for New York City mayor—Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, and Jim Walden—spoke at a Riders Alliance forum. The event focused on transit policy. Candidates pledged support for bus lanes, free buses, expanded Fair Fares, and shifting gas tax funds to mass transit. Lander vowed to end subway and street homelessness for the severely mentally ill by connecting them to stable housing. Mamdani promised a world-class bus network. Myrie pushed for citywide bus lanes. Ramos called for automatic Fair Fares registration. Stringer backed more bus routes. Walden opposed fare evasion crackdowns, urging resources go to service instead. All criticized Mayor Adams’ record on bus lanes and congestion pricing. The forum highlighted a united front for safer, more accessible transit, but offered no immediate relief for vulnerable road users.

• Promises, Promises: What the Candidates Said At The Transit Forum, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-03