Five Dead, Hundreds Hurt—Who Will Stop the Killing on Our Streets?

Feb 14 - A 16-year-old girl crossing with the signal was struck by a sedan making an improper left turn. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing a head injury and contusion. The pedestrian remained conscious despite the impact in Brooklyn.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling southwest on 28 Ave in Brooklyn struck a 16-year-old female pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the vehicle, making a left turn, failed to yield right-of-way and turned improperly. The collision caused a head injury and contusion to the pedestrian, who remained conscious. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factors attributed to the driver. The vehicle showed no damage, and the driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal is noted but not cited as a contributing factor. This incident highlights driver errors in yielding and turning that led to serious injury of a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793132 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 13 - Two SUVs crashed at Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn, striking each other’s right front panels. The female driver of one SUV suffered a back injury and shock. Both drivers were licensed. The collision caused significant vehicle damage but no ejections.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:54 on Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn involving two SUVs traveling south and east respectively. The point of impact was the right front quarter panel of one SUV and the right front bumper of the other. The female driver of the eastbound SUV, aged 32, was injured with back pain and shock but was not ejected. She was wearing a lap belt and harness. Both drivers were licensed in New York and New Jersey. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The collision caused damage primarily to the right front sections of both vehicles. The report focuses on the vehicle impact and resulting injuries without attributing fault or victim behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792827 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 11 - A bus traveling east on Mermaid Avenue struck the rear of an SUV, also heading east. The impact injured a 32-year-old male passenger in the SUV’s rear, causing a head contusion. Both vehicles sustained front and rear damage respectively.

According to the police report, a bus and a station wagon/SUV were both traveling east on Mermaid Avenue in Brooklyn at 9:44 PM. The bus struck the center back end of the SUV, which suffered damage to its rear, while the bus sustained damage to its center front end. The collision injured a 32-year-old male occupant seated in the rear of the SUV. He was conscious and suffered a head contusion, classified as injury severity level 3. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. Both drivers were licensed and driving straight ahead. The injury to the passenger highlights the danger of rear-end crashes involving large vehicles like buses, even absent explicit driver fault noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792092 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 9 - Ambulance making left turn on Ocean Parkway crashed. Driver distracted. Male passenger in rear injured, found unconscious. Impact struck right front bumper. No other vehicles or pedestrians involved.

According to the police report, an ambulance crashed while making a left turn on Ocean Parkway near Belt Parkway at 12:43 a.m. The vehicle, driven by a licensed female driver, struck with its right front bumper. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. A 53-year-old male passenger in the rear of the ambulance was injured and found unconscious. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The police report notes the passenger used no safety equipment, but does not cite this as a cause. The crash highlights the danger posed by distracted driving, even in emergency vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791656 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 1 - A 79-year-old woman suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a sedan made a left turn and struck her at a Brooklyn intersection. The driver’s inexperience was cited as a contributing factor. The pedestrian was conscious and bruised but not ejected.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Brighton Beach Avenue in Brooklyn at 11:32 AM. A sedan traveling north made a left turn and struck a 79-year-old female pedestrian located at the intersection. The point of impact was the vehicle’s left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity classified as moderate. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor to the collision. The vehicle showed no damage, and the driver was licensed in New York. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but was not ejected from any vehicle. No pedestrian behaviors were listed as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789755 - 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 24 - Two sedans collided on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn. The male driver failed to yield right-of-way. Both drivers suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The front passenger was also injured. Both occupants were conscious and restrained by seat belts.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:19 on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn involving two sedans. The male driver, traveling west, was cited for failure to yield right-of-way. The collision impacted the left front bumper of one vehicle and the right front bumper of the other. Both the driver and front passenger of the northbound sedan sustained neck injuries and whiplash, classified as injury severity 3. Both occupants were conscious and secured with lap belts and harnesses. The report explicitly identifies the male driver's failure to yield as a contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The female driver was making a left turn at the time of impact. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver errors in yielding right-of-way at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788077 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 21 - A sedan traveling north on Sheepshead Bay Rd struck its front passenger, causing a head injury. The passenger, a 22-year-old woman, suffered a concussion but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. Driver distraction caused the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:30 on Sheepshead Bay Rd in Brooklyn. The sedan, driven by a licensed male driver, was traveling straight ahead when the right front bumper impacted the front passenger. The passenger, a 22-year-old female occupant, was not ejected and was wearing a lap belt and harness. She sustained a head injury classified as a concussion and was conscious at the scene. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors related to the passenger were listed. The driver’s failure to maintain attention directly led to the injury of the front-seat occupant, highlighting the systemic danger posed by distracted driving.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788329 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 15 - A distracted driver crashed on Neptune Avenue. The impact struck the sedan’s left front. A 23-year-old rear passenger suffered abdomen and pelvis injuries. Shock followed. System failed to protect her.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn collided with another vehicle, striking its left front quarter panel. The report cites driver inattention and distraction as the cause. A 23-year-old woman riding as the right rear passenger was injured in the crash, suffering trauma to her abdomen and pelvis. She was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report notes she was in shock, though no visible complaints were recorded. Driver inattention directly led to the collision and the passenger’s injuries. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786230 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 15 - A 68-year-old man driving a sedan suffered back contusions after an SUV struck his vehicle’s left rear bumper. The crash, marked by driver inattention, unfolded on Ocean Parkway, leaving the sedan driver injured but restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:51 PM on Ocean Parkway involving two vehicles: a 2025 SUV and a 2022 sedan. The SUV was parked before the crash and impacted the left rear bumper of the sedan, which was traveling westbound. The sedan driver, a 68-year-old male occupant, sustained back contusions and was not ejected, secured by a lap belt. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain proper attention, leading to the collision. Both drivers were licensed in New York. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report. The impact caused damage to the left rear bumper of the SUV and the right front bumper of the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786229 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 11 - An e-scooter driver suffered a head injury after a crash in Brooklyn. The impact struck the center front end of the vehicle. Driver inattention and distraction caused the collision, leaving the rider bruised but conscious.

According to the police report, a 45-year-old male e-scooter driver was injured in a crash at 2:14 AM in Brooklyn near Bay 44 Street. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The vehicle, described as an e-scooter traveling straight ahead, sustained damage to the center front end upon impact. The rider was not ejected and remained conscious but suffered a head injury classified as a contusion or bruise with injury severity level 3. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The crash underscores the dangers posed by driver distraction in operating motorized devices on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785218 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 8 - A 31-year-old man crossing Ocean Parkway with the signal was struck by an SUV making a right turn. The driver’s inattention caused a collision that bruised the pedestrian’s lower leg. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact.

According to the police report, at 18:09 an SUV traveling north on Ocean Parkway made a right turn and struck a pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian, a 31-year-old male, suffered contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle, a 2012 Toyota SUV, sustained no damage despite the center front end impact. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but not ejected. The report does not list any pedestrian behaviors as contributing factors. This collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving during turning maneuvers in pedestrian zones.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784690 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 6 - A 55-year-old female driver suffered upper arm injuries after her sedan struck another vehicle from behind on W 25 St in Brooklyn. The crash caused center back end damage to her car. Police list unspecified driver errors as contributing factors.

According to the police report, a 55-year-old female driver traveling east on W 25 St in Brooklyn was involved in a rear-end collision. The sedan she was driving sustained center back end damage, indicating impact from behind. The driver was injured, specifically to her shoulder and upper arm, and was conscious at the scene. She was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The report cites unspecified contributing factors related to the driver, suggesting errors on her part led to the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision involved another vehicle, a 2023 Tesla, which sustained front end damage. The report focuses on driver errors without attributing fault to any victim behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784720 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 3 - Two sedans collided on Brighton 7 St in Brooklyn. Both drivers were distracted, causing impact on the right front bumper and left rear quarter panel. A 57-year-old passenger suffered shoulder injuries and shock, restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:45 on Brighton 7 St, Brooklyn. Two sedans traveling west collided; one was going straight ahead and the other was changing lanes. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the first sedan and the left rear quarter panel of the second. Both drivers had contributing factors of inattention and distraction, with one also noted for inexperience. A 57-year-old male occupant in the right rear passenger seat was injured, suffering upper arm and shoulder injuries and experiencing shock. He was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report cites driver inattention and distraction as the primary causes, with no contributing factors attributed to the injured passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783726 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 1 - Two sedans collided on Bay View Avenue in Brooklyn. Both drivers were male and licensed. One driver suffered head injuries and whiplash but remained conscious. The crash involved merging and straight travel, with front bumper impacts on both vehicles.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Bay View Avenue in Brooklyn at 16:11. Two sedans, both traveling south, collided. One vehicle was merging while the other was going straight ahead. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the merging sedan and the right front bumper of the other sedan. The male driver of the merging vehicle, aged 30, was injured with head trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors, but the merging maneuver by one vehicle and the straight travel of the other set the conditions for the collision. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784250 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 1 - A 19-year-old male driver suffered full-body injuries after a collision on Ocean Parkway. The SUV’s front center bore the impact. The driver was semiconscious, restrained by a lap belt, and reported pain and nausea following the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:20 AM on Ocean Parkway near Avenue Y in Brooklyn. The driver, a 19-year-old male operating a 2023 Toyota SUV, was making a left turn when the collision happened. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The SUV sustained damage to its center front end. The driver was not ejected and was restrained by a lap belt. He was semiconscious and suffered injuries to his entire body, with complaints of pain and nausea. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The incident highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction in vehicle collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783196 - 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 31 - A sedan struck a 76-year-old woman outside an intersection in Brooklyn. She suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The impact left her in shock. The car hit her while moving from a parked position.

According to the police report, a 76-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a sedan struck her outside an intersection on West 2nd Street in Brooklyn at 21:30. The woman was not in a crosswalk and was engaged in other actions in the roadway. She suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was described as being in shock. The report notes the sedan, a 2013 Honda, was parked before the crash and struck the pedestrian with its right side doors. No driver contributing factors were listed in the report. No helmet or crossing signal factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784306 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 27 - A Kia sedan crashed on Shore Parkway. Three inside—driver, two young girls—suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver distraction. No blame for passengers. Systemic danger, clear and brutal.

According to the police report, a 2021 Kia sedan traveling west on Shore Parkway in Brooklyn collided with another vehicle. The sedan carried a 27-year-old female driver and two female passengers, ages 10 and 5. All three occupants were injured, suffering back injuries and whiplash. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. Both children were passengers, restrained with lap belts. No contributing behaviors are attributed to the passengers. The crash highlights the direct harm caused by driver distraction, leaving vulnerable occupants hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782926 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 20 - A 22-year-old man suffered hip and upper leg injuries when a taxi struck him at an intersection on Harway Ave. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, hitting the pedestrian in the center front end. The victim was conscious but bruised.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling northeast on Harway Ave struck a 22-year-old male pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the collision occurred. The taxi driver, licensed in New York, was going straight ahead but failed to yield right-of-way, as cited in the contributing factors. The impact point was the center front end of the taxi, which sustained no damage. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his hip and upper leg but remained conscious. The report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a driver error contributing to the crash. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781152 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19