No More Waiting for Dead Bodies

A Kia slammed into a Toyota on Stockholm Street. Hayden Wallace, 29, died. Two friends survived with critical wounds. The driver fled. Police arrested Christopher Seabrook. The crash left a new life cut short, a city shaken.

According to the NY Daily News (published March 1, 2025), Christopher Seabrook, 28, was arrested for the hit-and-run crash that killed Hayden Wallace, 29, in Bushwick on January 8, 2024. Seabrook allegedly crashed a Kia Sportage into a Toyota Yaris carrying Wallace and friends, then fled the scene on foot. Wallace died; two others were critically injured. The Toyota’s driver was also charged with driving without a license. Seabrook faces charges including manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and leaving the scene. The article quotes Wallace’s aunt: “He lived life to the fullest. He was only 29 years old and lit up every room he entered.” The case highlights the deadly consequences of reckless driving and fleeing crash scenes in New York City.

• Bushwick Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-01

An SUV slammed into the rear of a bus on Fillmore Avenue in Brooklyn. The SUV driver suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries, entering shock and reporting pain. Police cited following too closely and driver distraction as causes of the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 14:05 on Fillmore Avenue in Brooklyn. A Ford SUV traveling east struck the right rear bumper of a bus also traveling east. The SUV driver, a 46-year-old man, was injured with upper arm and shoulder trauma and experienced shock and complaints of pain or nausea. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the collision. The SUV driver was not ejected and held a valid New York driver's license. The bus sustained damage to its right rear bumper, while the SUV's left front bumper was damaged. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795775 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 38-year-old male motorcycle driver was ejected and seriously injured in a Brooklyn crash. The impact damaged the motorcycle’s left front bumper. Alcohol involvement was cited as a contributing factor, highlighting driver impairment in the collision.

According to the police report, a 38-year-old male motorcycle driver was traveling northwest on Avenue K in Brooklyn at 1:32 AM when the crash occurred. The motorcycle sustained damage to its left front bumper. The driver was ejected from the vehicle and suffered a fractured, distorted, and dislocated shoulder and upper arm injury, classified as severe. The report explicitly lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating driver impairment. The driver was licensed and operating the motorcycle straight ahead prior to impact. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. This incident underscores the dangers of impaired driving and its role in serious motorcycle crashes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793997 - 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

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

Two vehicles crashed at night in Brooklyn. An SUV traveling south struck a sedan making a right turn eastbound. The sedan’s driver hit the SUV’s right front bumper. A front passenger in the SUV suffered knee and leg injuries, left in shock.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:15 near 2148 Ralph Ave in Brooklyn. A 2008 Chevrolet SUV traveling south collided with a 2007 Honda sedan making a right turn eastbound. The point of impact was the SUV’s right front bumper and the sedan’s left front bumper. The report cites 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor but does not specify driver errors beyond that. The SUV carried three occupants; the front passenger, a 47-year-old woman, was injured with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma and experienced shock. She was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The sedan had one occupant, the licensed male driver. The report does not list victim behaviors as contributing factors. The collision highlights risks at intersections involving turning vehicles and through traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790243 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A taxi struck a 27-year-old man at Avenue J and Flatbush. The pedestrian suffered knee, leg, and foot injuries. He was conscious. The crash marked another night of danger for Brooklyn’s walkers.

According to the police report, a taxi hit a 27-year-old male pedestrian at the intersection of Avenue J and Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn at 11:40 PM. The man was in the roadway and sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with abrasions and a moderate injury severity. He remained conscious after the crash. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. No pedestrian actions or safety equipment were cited as contributing factors. The incident highlights the ongoing risk faced by pedestrians at Brooklyn intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789571 - 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

A moving sedan struck a parked car on Avenue J. The crash injured a 78-year-old woman riding in the back seat. Metal twisted. The street fell silent. Emergency crews arrived. Another life changed by impact.

According to the police report, a southbound sedan hit a parked vehicle on Avenue J in Brooklyn at 9:11 AM. The impact injured a 78-year-old female passenger in the moving car. She suffered trauma to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The parked car was stationary before the crash. The injured passenger was wearing a lap belt and remained conscious after the collision. No victim actions contributed to the crash. The report documents the force of a moving vehicle striking a stationary car, leaving a passenger hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786264 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two vehicles collided on Belt Parkway during lane changes. The SUV driver, distracted and inexperienced, suffered a concussion and full-body injuries. The impact involved front-end damage, highlighting driver error as the crash cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Belt Parkway at 13:30 involving a Ford SUV and a Hyundai sedan, both traveling east and changing lanes. The SUV driver, a 48-year-old female occupant, was injured with a concussion and full-body trauma but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The point of impact was the center front end of the SUV and the right front bumper of the sedan, indicating a collision during lane changes. The SUV driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The collision underscores the dangers of driver distraction and inexperience in multi-vehicle crashes on busy roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786376 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 17-year-old male pedestrian suffered head injuries after a bus traveling east on Utica Avenue struck him at a marked crosswalk. The impact occurred at the bus's right rear bumper. The victim was conscious and sustained contusions and bruises.

According to the police report, a bus traveling eastbound on Utica Avenue struck a 17-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing at a marked crosswalk without a crossing signal. The collision occurred at 5:30 PM near Avenue H in Brooklyn. The point of impact was the bus's right rear bumper, damaging its right rear quarter panel. The pedestrian sustained head injuries classified as contusions and bruises and was conscious at the scene. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian but does not specify driver errors or violations such as failure to yield. The bus was moving straight ahead with one occupant, and no driver license or behavioral details were provided. The focus remains on the bus's involvement in striking the pedestrian at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785743 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 68-year-old woman suffered abrasions and full-body injuries after a sedan struck her at a Brooklyn intersection. The driver, making a left turn, failed to yield and was distracted. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when hit.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn struck a 68-year-old female pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The driver was making a left turn and impacted the pedestrian with the center front end of the vehicle. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her entire body but remained conscious. The driver’s failure to yield and distraction directly contributed to the crash, underscoring systemic dangers posed by inattentive turning drivers in crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784892 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs slammed together on Avenue O. A woman in the front seat was thrown partway out, scraped head to toe. Police cite ignored traffic signals and driver distraction as causes.

According to the police report, two SUVs collided at Avenue O and E 53 Street in Brooklyn at 16:29. The left front bumper of a 2015 Jeep struck the right side doors of a 2007 Mercedes. A 55-year-old woman, riding as front passenger, was partially ejected and suffered abrasions over her entire body. She was conscious and wore a lap belt. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, along with driver inattention. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The crash left the passenger with serious injuries, underscoring the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls and lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784029 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

Four sedans collided on Belt Parkway late at night. A 47-year-old female driver suffered a back injury. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. The crash left one occupant injured, highlighting dangers of distracted driving on high-speed roads.

According to the police report, a multi-vehicle collision involving four sedans occurred on Belt Parkway at 11:30 PM. The vehicles were all traveling westbound except one going eastbound. The impact points included center front and back ends, indicating a chain-reaction crash. A 47-year-old female driver, an occupant of one of the sedans, was injured with back pain and remained conscious. She was restrained by a lap belt and was not ejected. The police report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. This incident underscores the systemic danger posed by driver distraction on busy roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781186 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan traveling west on Belt Parkway rear-ended a pick-up truck also moving west. The sedan driver lost consciousness, causing the collision. The pick-up truck occupant was injured but not ejected. Both vehicles sustained center-end damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Belt Parkway at 14:15. A sedan and a pick-up truck, both traveling westbound, collided when the sedan struck the center back end of the pick-up truck. The sedan's front center end was damaged. The sedan driver, a 55-year-old male occupant wearing a lap belt, lost consciousness, which is cited as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The pick-up truck occupant was injured but not ejected and showed no visible complaints. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The report identifies the sedan driver's loss of consciousness as the critical error leading to the collision, with no other contributing factors noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781721 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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