She Survived Everything—Except a Brooklyn Crosswalk

Seventeen-year-old Jhoan Puga died after his moped struck a turning car in Midwood. His passenger was thrown and critically hurt. The crash left trauma and questions in its wake.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-24), Jhoan Puga, 17, was riding a gas moped north on East Eighth St. in Brooklyn when he collided with a Genesis G80 driven by a 71-year-old man making a left turn. The impact threw Puga and his passenger, causing severe injuries. The article states, "Jhoan later died at the hospital." The driver remained at the scene. No arrests have been made. The NYPD collision squad is investigating. The crash highlights risks at intersections and the vulnerability of moped riders in city traffic.

• Teen Killed, Passenger Hurt In Moped Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-24

A sedan hit a 17-year-old girl as she got off a vehicle on Neptune Avenue. She suffered a leg injury. Police cite driver inattention and confusion as factors.

A 17-year-old pedestrian was struck and injured by a sedan while getting off a vehicle on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the girl suffered a contusion to her lower leg and foot. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as contributing factors. The sedan showed no damage. The crash did not occur at an intersection. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824410 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two cars crashed head-on in Brooklyn. A woman, 55, riding in front, suffered back injuries. Police cite driver distraction. Metal, glass, pain. The street stays dangerous.

Two vehicles, a sedan and an SUV, crashed head-on at Brighton 4 Street and Brightwater Court in Brooklyn. A 55-year-old female passenger suffered back injuries and whiplash. According to the police report, both drivers were cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' No other injuries were reported. The crash underscores the risk when drivers lose focus. No other contributing factors were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822630 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An SUV hit a cyclist on Neptune Avenue. The rider suffered head wounds and shock. Police list injuries as severe. No driver errors named. The street saw blood and fear.

A cyclist, age 26, was struck by an SUV on Neptune Avenue near Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist suffered head injuries and severe lacerations, and was in shock. The SUV's right front bumper hit the cyclist. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The police report notes the cyclist's safety equipment as unknown. The crash left the cyclist injured, while the SUV occupants were not reported as seriously hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823927 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped slammed into a car’s door in Bay Ridge. The rider died. His passenger broke bones. The driver was drunk, unlicensed, and arrested. The street stayed quiet after the crash. Another life lost to reckless driving.

NY Daily News reported on June 22, 2025, that Joel Mota, 22, died after his moped struck the passenger-side door of a 2013 Acura TSX at Third Ave and 67th St in Brooklyn. The crash happened at 4:45 a.m. Police said the car’s driver, Leslie Moreno, was intoxicated and unlicensed. Mota’s passenger suffered multiple fractures. The article notes, 'Police arrested the Acura driver, 29-year-old Leslie Moreno, for driving while intoxicated, driving while ability impaired, and being unlicensed.' Moreno was arraigned and released without bail. The case highlights the ongoing risk posed by impaired, unlicensed drivers on city streets.

• Drunk Unlicensed Driver Kills Moped Rider, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-22

A sedan hit a 73-year-old man on Brightwater Ct. The crash left him with a concussion and leg injuries. Police list driver errors as unspecified. The street remains dangerous for those on foot.

A 73-year-old pedestrian suffered a concussion and injuries to his leg and foot after being struck by a sedan on Brightwater Ct near Coney Island Ave in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the driver was traveling straight ahead when the crash occurred. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed, but the impact left the pedestrian hurt and conscious at the scene. The driver and a passenger were not reported injured. The incident highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822231 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan hit an SUV on Neptune Avenue. Three people hurt. Police cite traffic control disregarded. Metal twisted. Neck injury. Brooklyn street, early morning, danger clear.

A sedan collided with a parked SUV on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn. Three occupants were injured, including a 25-year-old driver with a neck injury. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. The sedan was making a right turn when it struck the SUV's left side doors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report does not mention helmet or signal use as factors. The crash highlights the risk when drivers ignore traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822223 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV struck from behind on Belt Parkway. Driver and infant passenger injured. Police cite inattention and tailgating. Metal twisted. Shock lingered. System failed to protect the vulnerable inside.

A station wagon/SUV and a sedan collided on Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. The SUV was hit from behind. A 23-year-old woman driving and a 1-year-old boy riding in the back seat were both injured. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' contributed to the crash. The sedan struck the SUV’s rear, damaging the left rear bumper. Both injured occupants of the SUV experienced shock. The system allowed distraction and tailgating to put lives at risk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821935 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan hit two people walking against traffic on Brighton Beach Ave. Both suffered arm and leg injuries. Police list all causes as unspecified. Systemic danger remains unaddressed.

Two people, ages 15 and 40, were injured when a sedan struck them on Brighton Beach Ave in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both victims were walking along the highway against traffic when the crash occurred. The 40-year-old suffered arm injuries with minor bleeding; the 15-year-old had a leg contusion. The sedan’s left front bumper took the impact. Police list all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are specified in the report. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821934 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided on W 8 St in Brooklyn. One driver and a passenger suffered injuries. Police cite driver inattention. The street saw metal twist, glass break, lives shaken. The system failed to protect those inside.

A crash involving two sedans occurred on W 8 St near Sheepshead Bay Road in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. One driver, a 60-year-old woman, suffered back injuries and shock. A 26-year-old female passenger was also injured. The report lists no contributing factors for the victims. The collision involved multiple vehicles, but only the sedan occupants were hurt. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus behind the wheel. No helmet or signal use was cited as a factor. The toll fell on those inside the cars, not on the distracted driver alone.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820466 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A crash on Neptune Avenue left a man with neck injuries. Three vehicles tangled. Police blamed driver distraction. Metal bent. One driver hurt. The street stayed dangerous. No pedestrians or cyclists involved. The system failed to protect.

A collision on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn involved a sedan, an SUV, and a parked pickup truck. One man, age 46, suffered a neck injury and whiplash. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor. The crash involved two licensed male drivers and several other occupants, including a child. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported among the injured. The impact points show the SUV struck the left front bumper, the sedan was hit at the right rear, and the parked truck was damaged on the left side doors. The report does not list helmet or signal use as factors. The data points to driver distraction as the key failure.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820464 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs collided on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn. One driver suffered a neck injury. The crash came as one vehicle made a U-turn and the other changed lanes. Police cite improper turning as the cause. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

A crash involving two SUVs unfolded on Neptune Avenue at West 25th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one vehicle was making a U-turn while the other was changing lanes. The impact left a 43-year-old woman, driving one of the SUVs, with a neck injury and whiplash. Three other occupants, including both drivers, were listed with unspecified injuries. Police identified 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor. The report notes both vehicles sustained damage, with one struck on the right side doors and the other at the center front end. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820463 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan turned left on Avenue X. Its driver’s view was blocked. A 24-year-old motorized rider was hit and injured. Police cite driver inattention and obstructed view.

A sedan making a left turn at Avenue X in Brooklyn struck a 24-year-old man operating a motorized vehicle. According to the police report, the crash resulted in injury to the motorized rider, who suffered an arm abrasion. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The sedan’s driver was not injured. The police report also notes confusion involving vulnerable road users. The crash highlights the danger when drivers turn with limited visibility and distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824736 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City will rip out a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. The lane calmed a deadly stretch. Drivers still parked illegally. Children darted into traffic. Now, cyclists and pedestrians face more danger. Policy shifts, safety slips. Streets stay lethal.

Streetsblog NYC reported on June 13, 2025, that Mayor Adams will remove the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue, a corridor known for high crash rates. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'before this bike lane from 2018 to 2022 this is the area that had the second largest numbers of pedestrian fatalities and crashes in the city.' The lane faced opposition from some Hasidic leaders, citing children running into the lane from illegally parked cars and buses. Despite tweaks—school bus zones, daylighted corners, no standing areas—drivers kept parking illegally, blocking sightlines and endangering children. The city rarely removes protected lanes, but Adams acted after political pressure. Moving the lane to Classon Avenue, as some demand, would force cyclists onto a chaotic BQE ramp. The decision highlights persistent driver violations and policy gaps that leave vulnerable road users exposed.

• Adams Removes Bedford Avenue Bike Lane, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-13

Parents in Greenpoint want cars out. A cyclist died at Monitor and Driggs. Children walk and bike to PS 110. The street stays dangerous. The city has not acted. Families wait. The threat of cars remains.

Streetsblog NYC reported on June 11, 2025, that parents at Public School 110 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, are calling for a Paris-style school street to protect children. Their plan would turn Monitor Street into a cul-de-sac with a pedestrian plaza, add mid-block crossings, and close a slip lane to block cut-through traffic from the BQE. The push follows a fatal crash at Monitor and Driggs, where a driver killed 73-year-old cyclist Teddy Orzechowski. Streetsblog notes, 'Streets outside schools have higher crash and injury rates than the city average.' Most PS 110 families walk or bike, but the city has not responded to the proposal. The article highlights the persistent risk from drivers using local streets as shortcuts.

• Brooklyn Parents Demand Safer School Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-11

A truck slammed into a sedan’s rear on 86th Street. One woman suffered neck injuries. Police cite driver inattention and following too closely. The street saw metal and pain. The system failed to protect those inside.

A crash unfolded on 86th Street in Brooklyn when a Ford truck, heading east, struck the rear of a Ford sedan that was slowing or stopping. According to the police report, a 27-year-old woman driving the sedan suffered neck injuries. Two other occupants, including a child, were listed with unspecified injuries. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. Both vehicles were operated by licensed drivers. The truck’s front end hit the sedan’s back, causing injury and disruption. The data shows clear driver error—distraction and tailgating—at the heart of this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819823 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans crashed on Neptune Avenue. Driver inattention sent metal into metal. One man hurt, back injured. Brooklyn street echoed with shock and pain.

Two sedans traveling east on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn collided. According to the police report, both vehicles were involved due to 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' A 25-year-old male driver suffered a back injury and was in shock. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one person hurt and another with unspecified injuries. The impact struck the center front and back ends of the vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819211 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW motorcycle sped west on Shore Parkway. The unlicensed driver lost focus. The crash left his passenger hurt, arm bruised. Police blamed distraction. The road stayed open. The city counted another wound.

A crash on Shore Parkway in Brooklyn involved a BMW motorcycle traveling west. According to the police report, the motorcycle driver was unlicensed and listed as distracted at the time of the crash. The 23-year-old male driver suffered a contusion to his arm but remained conscious and was wearing a helmet. His 23-year-old male passenger was also injured. The police report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main contributing factor. No other vehicles or road users were involved. The report does not mention any other contributing factors beyond distraction and the lack of a valid license for the driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816992 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two cars slammed together on the Belt Parkway ramp. Metal twisted. A child took a blow to the head. Another passenger hurt her back. Speed was the culprit. The road bore the scars. The city counted the injured.

Two vehicles, a 2024 Toyota SUV and a 2006 Honda sedan, collided while heading west on the Belt Parkway ramp in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Unsafe Speed.' Seven people were involved. A young child in the rear seat suffered a head injury and a 37-year-old woman in the back reported back pain. Both drivers and other passengers had unspecified injuries. The SUV was struck at the left rear bumper, while the sedan took damage to its left side doors. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the sole contributing factor. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816916 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A pregnant woman stepped from her car after a crash. The other driver floored it, struck her, dragged her, then fled. She died at the hospital. The driver vanished into the night. Police search. Grief lingers on Van Buren Street.

According to the New York Post (published May 26, 2025), Tiffany Cifuni, 32, was killed after a minor collision at Van Buren Street and Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Brooklyn. Cifuni exited her Toyota 4Runner to check for damage. The driver of a Chevy Trax then accelerated, struck her from behind, dragged her, and sped away against traffic on a one-way street. The article states, "the driver of the Trax gunned it and struck Cifuni from behind, dragging her before speeding away." The suspect crashed into two more vehicles before fleeing on foot, leaving behind a car with temporary plates. The driver remains at large. The incident highlights the lethal risk of hit-and-run drivers and the dangers posed by unchecked reckless driving on city streets.

• Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Hit-And-Run, New York Post, Published 2025-05-26