Deadly Silence on the Belt Parkway: Lives Lost, Leaders Absent

• Brooklyn police pursuit ends with pedestrian struck, alleged teenage car thief caught, amny, Published 2025-09-14

Sep 6 - On Flatbush by the Belt Parkway, a 29-year-old motorcyclist went straight when the motorcycle's back end took the hit. He stayed conscious. He suffered severe leg cuts. Police recorded 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor.

A crash on Flatbush Ave at the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn injured a 29-year-old motorcyclist. According to the police report, the motorcycle was "Going Straight Ahead," and the point of impact was the "Center Back End." Police recorded "Other Vehicular" as the contributing factor. The rider suffered severe lacerations to the knee, lower leg, and foot. He remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists a second vehicle but provides no details on that driver or vehicle. Damage to the motorcycle was recorded at the center back end. The record names the rider as the driver. No other injuries are documented.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4841477 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 14 - Council moves to hit rogue vans hard. A checklist. Max fines for each breach. TLC, NYPD, DOT must act together. Crack down on illegal operators who imperil riders and people on the street. The bill sits in committee.

Int 1347-2025 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced and referred on August 14, 2025. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to enforcing violations against unlicensed commuter vans.” It orders TLC, with NYPD and DOT, to keep a compliance checklist. When officers stop an unlicensed van, they must check every rule and issue the maximum fine for each breach. Primary sponsor Nantasha M. Williams. Co-sponsors Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Mercedes Narcisse, and Chris Banks. Status: Committee. If enacted, it takes effect 120 days later. It targets illegal operators who put riders and bystanders at risk.

• File Int 1347-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Council introduces Int 1347-2025 to curb rogue commuter vans. TLC, NYPD, and DOT must keep a safety checklist. Officers who spot an unlicensed van stack every charge and levy max fines. A push to shield riders and people on the street.

Int 1347-2025 is in Committee. It sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction and referral on August 14, 2025. The bill’s title reads, “A Local Law … in relation to enforcing violations against unlicensed commuter vans.” It orders TLC, with NYPD and DOT, to maintain a checklist of laws on vehicle and driver licensure, service authorization, insurance, and inspections. When an officer stops an unlicensed van, they must review the list and issue the maximum penalty for each violation. Primary sponsor Nantasha M. Williams is joined by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Mercedes Narcisse, Chris Banks, and Farah N. Louis. The aim is to protect riders and bystanders from unlicensed operators who skip the rules.

• File Int 1347-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 10 - Two SUV drivers crashed at Fillmore and East 32nd. The Honda overturned. A 62-year-old woman driving was hurt. Three others listed with unspecified injuries. Police recorded failure to yield.

Two SUV drivers collided at Fillmore Avenue and East 32nd Street in Brooklyn. The driver of a westbound 2011 Honda went straight. A northeastbound 2024 Mitsubishi driver made a left turn. The Honda overturned. A 62-year-old woman driving the Honda was injured with abrasions across her body. Three others were listed with unspecified injuries. According to the police report, the crash involved a westbound Honda and a northeastbound Mitsubishi making a left turn, and police recorded “Failure to Yield Right-of-Way” as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors were recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833933 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 5 - A driver in a sedan overturned on Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. The 22-year-old driver was ejected and killed. Three male passengers were injured; one passenger was also ejected. Police recorded unsafe speed and driver inattention.

A driver in a sedan was traveling west on the Belt Parkway when the vehicle overturned. The 22-year-old driver was ejected and killed. Three male passengers were injured; police said one passenger was also ejected. According to the police report, the crash killed the 22-year-old driver and injured three male passengers, ages 18, 20, and 22. Police list 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The report notes that some occupants wore no safety equipment, mentioned after the cited driver errors. The car was registered in New Jersey and suffered an overturn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833034 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 23 - Two men killed crossing Third Avenue. A driver sped through a red light, fled. Eighty hurt or dead since 2018. Residents rally. Promised fixes stalled. Danger remains. Children cross nine lanes to reach school.

Gothamist (2025-07-23) reports Sunset Park residents and officials demand safety upgrades on Third Avenue after a hit-and-run killed two men. Police say the driver "sped through a red light" and fled. Since 2018, drivers have killed or seriously injured 80 people on this two-mile stretch. A redesign with protected bike lanes was approved but stalled. State Sen. Gounardes criticized the city's response: "We should all be offended... the response... is a sign that says: 'be careful.'" The article highlights the need for enforcement and infrastructure, noting children must cross nine lanes daily.

• Sunset Park Demands Safer Third Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-23

Jul 18 - Cargo van struck Mayya Gil, 95, as she crossed Cropsey Avenue. She died. Her aide survived. Driver charged with failure to yield and due care. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

Gothamist (2025-07-18) reports a 95-year-old woman, Mayya Gil, died after a cargo van hit her and her home health aide while they crossed Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver, Thimothe Andre, was charged with two counts of failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. Police said Andre struck both victims while turning. Gil died at the hospital; her aide survived. The article notes, 'NYPD data shows 100 people have died in city traffic crashes so far this year.' The case highlights persistent risks for pedestrians and the consequences of driver inattention at city intersections.

• Brooklyn Pedestrian Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-18

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 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 - Two vehicles collided on Flatbush Avenue. A sedan struck the back of an SUV. Three people hurt. Impact was hard. Police list no clear cause. Streets remain dangerous for all.

A sedan and an SUV crashed on Flatbush Avenue near Hendrickson Place in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the sedan hit the back of the SUV. Three people were injured: a 73-year-old male driver with back pain, a 70-year-old female passenger with a neck contusion, and another occupant with unspecified injuries. Police list all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are recorded in the report. The crash left both vehicles damaged at their center ends. The report notes one passenger wore a lap belt, while another driver had no safety equipment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826825 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 3 - Two SUVs struck a sedan’s rear on Belt Parkway. A three-year-old passenger suffered a head injury. Police cite driver distraction. Metal and glass, chaos and pain. The system failed the youngest first.

On Belt Parkway in Brooklyn, two SUVs crashed into the rear of a sedan. According to the police report, both SUV drivers were inattentive or distracted. A three-year-old passenger in one SUV sustained a head injury and was conscious at the scene. Other passengers, including children and adults, were also involved but listed with unspecified injuries. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both SUV drivers. No other contributing factors are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825039 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 - 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 25 - A motorcycle, pick-up, and sedan collided on Belt Parkway. One rider was hurt, partially ejected, burned, and in shock. Unsafe lane changing played a role. The road showed no mercy.

A crash on Belt Parkway involved a motorcycle, pick-up truck, and sedan. According to the police report, one 20-year-old motorcycle driver was injured, partially ejected, and suffered burns and shock. Three other men, ages 32 and 65, were listed as occupants but not seriously hurt. The report cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Other Vehicular' factors as contributing causes. The motorcycle driver was not using safety equipment. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826464 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 22 - A sedan struck a motorcycle from behind on Belt Parkway. The motorcyclist suffered arm abrasions. Police cite following too closely and unsafe lane changing as causes.

A sedan hit a motorcycle from behind on Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. The motorcyclist, a 40-year-old man, was injured with abrasions to his arm. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Following Too Closely' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing.' The sedan's front end struck the motorcycle's rear. The report lists helmet use for the motorcyclist. No pedestrians were involved. The crash highlights driver errors as key factors in the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822647 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 17 - Mayor Adams and Commissioner Tisch push their crackdown citywide. Police target cyclists. Riders face more stops, more tickets. Streets grow tense. Enforcement rises. Vulnerable road users bear the brunt. Safety slips further from reach.

On June 17, 2025, Mayor Eric Adams and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the expansion of their 'quality-of-life' pilot program at a press conference. The program, which turns routine traffic violations by cyclists into criminal summonses, will go citywide by the end of August. The matter, reported by Streetsblog NYC as 'The Crackdown This Time Edition,' drew sharp criticism from advocates and riders. Council Member Mercedes Narcisse acknowledged drivers as the main threat to pedestrians but called for consideration of drivers in transit deserts. Mayor Adams promised to consult with communities before redesigning streets. Safety analysts warn: expanding this enforcement targets vulnerable road users, discourages cycling, and shifts blame from drivers and infrastructure. The move undermines mode shift and street safety, putting cyclists and pedestrians at greater risk.

• Tuesday’s Headlines: The Crackdown This Time Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-17