No One Dies—Everyone Bleeds: Flatbush Needs Action, Not Excuses

A stolen Porsche sped down the Belt Parkway. Police set a roadblock. The driver swerved, nearly hitting a lieutenant. A shot rang out. The car crashed. One man died. The state investigates. The road stayed dangerous.

ABC7 reported on May 2, 2025, that a man was killed after a police-involved shooting during a stolen car stop in Brooklyn. Officers, following new NYPD pursuit rules, did not chase but instead set a roadblock. According to NYPD Chief John Chell, 'We didn't pursue the vehicle, we strategically radioed ahead to shut down traffic.' The driver, Jumaane Wright, swerved toward officers, nearly striking a lieutenant, who fired a single shot. Wright crashed a mile later and died at the hospital. The Attorney General's investigation is standard for such incidents. The case highlights risks in high-speed police interventions and the ongoing challenge of balancing pursuit policies with public safety.

• Police Roadblock Ends In Fatal Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-05-02

A 14-year-old girl suffered severe leg fractures after a sedan struck her at an intersection. The driver was traveling south, impacting the pedestrian with the vehicle’s left front bumper. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal, according to the police report.

According to the police report, a 14-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Aviation Road and Flatbush Avenue when a 2022 Toyota sedan traveling south struck her with the vehicle’s left front bumper. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal at the time of the collision. The driver was going straight ahead and was licensed in New York. The pedestrian sustained fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in injury severity level 3 and shock. The report lists the pedestrian’s action as crossing against the signal but does not specify driver errors or contributing factors beyond this. Vehicle damage was noted on the right front bumper, indicating impact. No other contributing factors or driver violations were cited in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801159, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A bicyclist was ejected and injured after a collision with an SUV on Flatbush Avenue. The impact caused upper arm injuries and bruising. Police cite unsafe speed and other vehicular factors as contributing causes in this serious crash.

According to the police report, at 18:04 on Flatbush Avenue, a bicyclist traveling south was struck by a southbound SUV. The bicyclist was ejected from the bike and sustained upper arm injuries and contusions. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Other Vehicular' factors as driver errors contributing to the crash. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment and was conscious after the collision. The SUV impacted the left front quarter panel, while the bike was hit on the left front bumper. No damage was reported to the bike, indicating the severity of the impact was primarily to the rider. The report does not assign fault to the bicyclist but highlights driver errors and systemic danger on this roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732166, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Three sedans collided on Belt Parkway heading east. One driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The crash involved lane changes and merging. Driver distraction played a key role. Vehicles sustained front and rear-end damage. The injured driver remained conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, a chain collision occurred on Belt Parkway involving three sedans traveling east. The first vehicle was changing lanes, the second was going straight, and the third was merging. The impact points included the center front end and rear bumpers. One driver, a 52-year-old male occupant, was injured with neck pain and whiplash but was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for the crash. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The crash caused damage to the front and rear ends of the vehicles involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4666890, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped and sedan collided head-on on Flatbush Avenue. The moped driver, a 28-year-old man, suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries. He was incoherent and complained of pain and nausea. Alcohol involvement was noted in the crash.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Flatbush Avenue involving a sedan and a moped, both traveling north. The moped struck the left rear bumper of the sedan. The moped driver, a 28-year-old male, was injured with upper arm and shoulder trauma and was incoherent at the scene. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead. The sedan sustained damage to its left rear quarter panel, and the moped was damaged at the center front end. No other contributing factors were specified. The moped driver was wearing a helmet. The report does not indicate any fault or blame on the injured party.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4634868, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan traveling north on Flatbush Avenue crashed, injuring its 23-year-old male driver. The driver suffered neck injuries and minor bleeding. Alcohol involvement was a key factor. The driver was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected.

According to the police report, a 23-year-old male driver was injured in a crash on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver was operating a 2009 sedan traveling north when the vehicle sustained damage to the right front bumper from a center front end impact. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected but suffered neck injuries and minor bleeding. Alcohol involvement was listed twice as a contributing factor, indicating impairment played a role in the crash. The driver was licensed in New York. No other vehicles or pedestrians were reported injured. The report highlights alcohol involvement as the primary driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4626897, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 29-year-old woman driving a sedan suffered back injuries in a Belt Parkway crash. An SUV struck the sedan’s rear center. The sedan driver was restrained and not ejected. Both vehicles traveled westbound. No visible injuries beyond the back injury were reported.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old female sedan driver was injured when an SUV rear-ended her on Belt Parkway. The SUV impacted the sedan's center back end while both vehicles were traveling straight westbound. The sedan driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected but suffered back injuries and shock. The report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors identified. The SUV sustained damage to its center back end; the sedan showed no damage. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4566892, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two vehicles collided late at night in Brooklyn. Both drivers were distracted by eating or drinking. The front passenger and the SUV driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both were conscious and restrained. Impact was at center front and back ends of the vehicles.

According to the police report, a sedan and an SUV collided on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn at 11:17 p.m. Both vehicles were traveling north and struck each other at their center front and back ends. The driver of the SUV and the front passenger in the sedan were injured, both suffering neck injuries and whiplash. Both occupants were conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses. The report lists driver inattention and distraction, specifically eating or drinking, as contributing factors to the crash. No ejections occurred. The drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead prior to impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4560861, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan starting from parking struck a 53-year-old male bicyclist riding north on Flatbush Avenue. The cyclist suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. The driver was inattentive and distracted. The bicyclist wore a helmet and remained conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan driven by a licensed male driver started from parking and collided with a bicyclist traveling north on Flatbush Avenue. The bicyclist, a 53-year-old man, sustained abrasions to his elbow and lower arm but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as a contributing factor. Additionally, "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" was noted. The sedan showed no damage, while the bike sustained front-end damage. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4541765, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 53-year-old woman was struck by a taxi on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. She suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The taxi showed no damage. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was in shock after the collision.

According to the police report, a 53-year-old female pedestrian was injured by a taxi traveling south on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot and was in shock. The taxi was parked before the crash and showed no damage or point of impact. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The pedestrian was not at an intersection at the time of the collision. No safety equipment or signals are noted. The taxi driver was licensed and operating a 2021 vehicle with three occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4534726, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14