Flatbush Bleeds, City Shrugs: Who Will Stop the Killing?

Two SUVs collided at an intersection on Mayfair Dr S. Both drivers were distracted, causing a crash that injured a 19-year-old female driver. Impact struck the center front and left rear quarter panels, leaving one occupant in shock with neck injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:08 on Mayfair Dr S involving two station wagons/SUVs. One vehicle was traveling south going straight ahead, the other making a left turn westbound. Both drivers were cited for Driver Inattention/Distraction as contributing factors. The impact was to the center front end of the southbound SUV and the left rear quarter panel of the westbound SUV. A 19-year-old female driver, occupant of the westbound vehicle, sustained neck injuries and was not ejected. She was wearing a lap belt and harness and experienced shock. The report explicitly notes driver distraction as the cause, with no contributing victim behaviors mentioned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794759 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan turned right on Ralph Ave. A motorscooter hit its back end. The rider took neck injuries and whiplash. The driver walked away. Urban turns stay deadly for those outside steel.

According to the police report, a sedan making a right turn on Ralph Ave in Brooklyn was struck by a motorscooter traveling straight. The motorscooter's left front bumper hit the sedan's center back end. The 29-year-old scooter rider suffered neck trauma and whiplash, with injury severity level 3. He was not ejected. The sedan driver, a licensed male, was unhurt. The report lists unspecified contributing factors. No helmet use or victim fault is noted. The crash, at 7:19 pm in zip code 11234, shows the danger when turning vehicles cross paths with vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794701 - 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

A bus and sedan collided on Avenue S. A 23-year-old bus passenger suffered back injuries and whiplash. Defective headlights contributed. The crash shows how equipment failure puts lives at risk.

According to the police report, a bus and a sedan collided at 19:47 on Avenue S in Brooklyn. Both vehicles were traveling north. The bus was stopped in traffic when the sedan struck its left front quarter panel. A 23-year-old male passenger on the bus was injured, suffering back injuries and whiplash. The report lists 'Headlights Defective' as a contributing factor, pointing to equipment failure as a key cause. No contributing factors are listed for the passenger. The crash highlights the danger posed by defective vehicle equipment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792489 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

Two SUVs collided on Ralph Avenue in Brooklyn at 7:06 p.m. One driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The crash involved a failure to yield right-of-way. Impact damaged left rear and right front quarter panels of the vehicles.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:06 on Ralph Avenue in Brooklyn involving two station wagon/SUV vehicles. One SUV was parked westbound when struck on its left rear quarter panel by another SUV making a right turn westbound. The driver of the moving SUV, a 52-year-old male, sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3, with contusions and bruises reported. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor to the collision. Both vehicles sustained damage to their quarter panels at the points of impact. The injured driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors in the police data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791913 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cargo van struck Mayya Gil, 95, and her aide in Brooklyn. Gil died. The driver turned left, hit them in the crosswalk. No charges filed. Gil survived war and disaster, but not New York traffic. Another senior lost to city streets.

Gothamist (2025-01-26) reports that Mayya Gil, 95, was killed while crossing Cropsey Avenue in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. A man driving a cargo van made a left turn and struck Gil and her home health aide. The aide survived; Gil did not. Police made no arrests or charges. The article notes, 'She was a very active lady.' Gil was the second elderly pedestrian killed in Brooklyn that month. Transportation Alternatives highlighted that 46 senior pedestrians died in city crashes last year. The crash underscores the ongoing risk to older New Yorkers at crosswalks and the lack of driver accountability in such incidents.

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

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

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

Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

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

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

Two SUVs collided head-on and rear-end on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. An 86-year-old front-seat passenger suffered whiplash and full-body injuries. The crash stemmed from driver inattention, highlighting dangers of distracted driving in busy city traffic.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:53 on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn involving two SUVs traveling northbound. The 2023 Kia SUV struck the rear center of the 2018 Jeep SUV, damaging both vehicles. The front passenger in the Jeep, an 86-year-old man, sustained whiplash and injuries to his entire body but was conscious and not ejected. The report cites driver inattention and distraction as the primary contributing factors to the collision. Both drivers were licensed, with the Kia driver from Michigan and the Jeep driver from New York. The injured passenger was restrained by a lap belt. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The crash underscores the risks posed by distracted driving on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779761 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A distracted driver struck a stopped SUV on Avenue U in Brooklyn. The collision caused upper arm injuries and whiplash to the driver of the rear vehicle. Both vehicles sustained front and rear-end damage in the midday crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:30 PM on Avenue U in Brooklyn. A 47-year-old male driver, licensed in New York, was operating a 2011 Nissan SUV traveling westbound. He rear-ended a stopped 2024 Nissan SUV with four occupants, registered in Florida. The point of impact was the center front end of the rear vehicle and the center back end of the front vehicle. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for the collision. The injured driver suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries with whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. Both vehicles sustained damage consistent with a rear-end collision. The data highlights driver distraction as the critical error leading to the crash, with no contributing factors attributed to the victims.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778037 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV turned left into sedan on Ralph Avenue. Sedan driver, 66, injured and incoherent. Both cars hit front ends. Police cite other vehicular factors. Brooklyn street, early morning, metal and flesh collide.

According to the police report, an SUV making a left turn collided with a sedan traveling straight on Ralph Avenue in Brooklyn at 1:12 AM. The sedan’s 66-year-old driver was injured and found incoherent at the scene. The crash involved front-end impacts to both vehicles. The police report lists 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor but does not specify further driver errors. No actions by the injured sedan driver are cited as contributing factors. The SUV driver held only a permit license. Both vehicles sustained significant front-end damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776471 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A city worker crashed into three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, struck a car with a pregnant woman, and tried to flee. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her near the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist (2024-11-27) reports a New York City Housing Authority employee crashed into three vehicles near Gates Avenue and Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Brooklyn. Police say the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," dragged a person trying to get her information, and hit another car with a pregnant woman inside. She then struck a third, unoccupied vehicle before being arrested by city sheriffs nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights ongoing risks at busy intersections and underscores the consequences of fleeing after a crash.

• Driver Drags Person, Hits Pregnant Woman, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

Two female drivers collided at Mill Ave and Avenue T in Brooklyn. Both suffered moderate injuries—whiplash and bruising. The SUV struck the sedan’s right side. Police cited traffic control disregard as the cause, highlighting driver error in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:00 PM on Mill Ave near Avenue T in Brooklyn. A 2019 Jeep SUV traveling east struck the right side doors of a 2012 Fiat sedan traveling south. Both drivers, women aged 19 and 51, were injured with moderate severity—whiplash for the younger driver and bruising for the older. Both were conscious and not ejected. The report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, indicating a failure by one or both drivers to obey traffic signals or signs. The SUV’s front center end collided with the sedan’s right side doors, causing damage consistent with a side-impact collision. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The crash underscores driver errors related to traffic control compliance as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772984 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton led Staten Island and Brooklyn politicians in a rally against congestion pricing. They gathered at the Verrazano Bridge, denouncing the plan as a burden on working-class commuters. The coalition promised fierce resistance, demanding the governor keep the program paused.

On November 14, 2024, State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (District 23) led a bipartisan rally against the revival of congestion pricing. The event, held at the Verrazano Bridge, included U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, Council Member Joe Borelli, and others. The group opposed Governor Hochul's plan to re-implement congestion pricing, which would charge vehicles entering lower Manhattan. The rally's matter title: 'Staten Island, Brooklyn pols rally against congestion pricing as Hochul considers reviving program.' Scarcella-Spanton pledged to 'fight tooth and nail until congestion pricing is dead.' Brooklyn Assembly Member Jaime Williams and others condemned the plan as unfair to transit deserts and working-class communities. No safety analyst assessment was provided regarding the impact on vulnerable road users.

• Staten Island, Brooklyn pols rally against congestion pricing as Hochul considers reviving program, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-11-14

Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13