Red Lights, Dead Pedestrians—City Waits, People Die

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 4 - SUV and sedan collided on Gowanus Expressway. Two men suffered back injuries. Both vehicles struck head-on. No cause listed. The road turned violent in the night.

Two vehicles, a station wagon/SUV and a sedan, collided on the Gowanus Expressway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, two men—a 27-year-old driver and a 23-year-old front passenger—were injured, both suffering back and internal injuries. The SUV was hit at the center back end, the sedan at the center front. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were recorded in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826140 - 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 - SUV and sedan collided on 5th Avenue in Brooklyn. Two passengers hurt. Police cite traffic control disregarded. Metal twisted. Night air thick with sirens.

Two vehicles, a sedan and an SUV, crashed at 5th Avenue and 48th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the collision occurred when traffic control was disregarded. Two people were injured: a 24-year-old female passenger suffered whiplash, and a 21-year-old male driver sustained a head abrasion. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling straight before impact. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826141 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 28 - E-bike hit a 64-year-old woman crossing 55th Street. She suffered a fractured leg. Police cite failure to yield. The street stayed silent after the crash.

A 64-year-old woman was struck by an e-bike while crossing 55th Street in Brooklyn. She suffered a fractured and dislocated leg. According to the police report, the crash happened when the e-bike, traveling west, failed to yield the right-of-way. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No other injuries were specified. The pedestrian was not at an intersection or crosswalk at the time. The impact was to the center front end of the e-bike.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823682 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 23 - Two cars collided on the Gowanus Expressway. One passenger suffered neck injuries. Four others were involved. The cause remains unclear. Metal twisted. Shock followed.

A sedan and an SUV crashed on the Gowanus Expressway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a 61-year-old male passenger suffered neck injuries and shock. Four other men, ages 29 and 72, were involved but not seriously hurt. Both vehicles were traveling east. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are cited. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822634 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 17 - SUV turned across McDonald Ave. Cyclist riding straight. Impact threw rider. Head injury. Police cite improper turn and lane use. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

A cyclist was injured when an SUV making a U-turn struck him on McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the SUV driver was 'Turning Improperly' and committed 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' The cyclist, traveling straight, was ejected and suffered a head injury. The report notes the cyclist wore a helmet. The crash highlights the danger when drivers turn across the path of vulnerable road users. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821679 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 15 - Two SUVs slammed together on 3rd Avenue at 60th Street. One driver suffered back injuries. Passengers escaped serious harm. Metal twisted. The street stayed open. The cause remains unclear. The system failed to protect those inside.

Two station wagons or SUVs crashed at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and 60th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one SUV was making a left turn while the other went straight. The crash left a 44-year-old male driver with back injuries and whiplash. Three passengers and another driver were listed as uninjured. The police report lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor for all involved, with no further details on driver actions. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Both vehicles sustained damage to their sides and bumpers. The report does not mention helmet use or turn signals as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820440 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 15 - A black Suburban sped north on Coney Island Avenue. It struck a Volvo, shoving it into a police car. Two officers broke bones. A passenger flew from the Suburban. Blood pooled on the street. Sirens wailed. The driver now faces charges.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-15), a 24-year-old man drove a Chevrolet Suburban while intoxicated on Coney Island Avenue. He crashed into a Volvo at Avenue U, triggering a chain-reaction that sent the Volvo into a marked NYPD car. The article states, "One police officer suffered a broken pelvis and arm, as well as head trauma, while another suffered a broken hip." A passenger in the Suburban was ejected and critically injured. The driver, Diyorjon Sobirjonov, was charged with DWI, reckless endangerment, and related offenses after refusing a blood-alcohol test. The incident highlights the ongoing risk posed by impaired driving and the vulnerability of passengers and officers in multi-vehicle collisions.

• Chain-Reaction Crash Injures Cops, Passenger, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-15

Jun 14 - A child steps from a bus. A cyclist strikes. Bedford Avenue’s protected bike lane will vanish. City listens to complaints, not data. Streets stay dangerous. Cyclists and children caught in the crossfire. Policy shifts, safety left behind.

CBS New York reported on June 14, 2025, that Mayor Eric Adams will remove three blocks of the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn after several crashes, including one involving a child exiting a school bus. The mayor cited 'community concerns' and stated, 'After several incidents—including some involving children...we decided to adjust the current design.' City Council Member Lincoln Restler criticized the move, calling it 'pure politics' and warning, 'He is going to make this area less safe for pedestrians, for cyclists.' The article highlights tension between local complaints and street safety policy. No driver error is cited; the crash involved a cyclist and a child. The decision raises questions about how New York responds to vulnerable road users and whether removing infrastructure addresses underlying dangers.

• Brooklyn Bike Lane Removed After Crashes, CBS New York, Published 2025-06-14

Jun 13 - A cyclist hit a pedestrian on 4th Avenue near 30th Street in Brooklyn. The crash left the pedestrian with an arm injury. Police cite unsafe speed as the cause. The cyclist wore a helmet. The street stayed open. The night stayed quiet.

A crash on 4th Avenue at 30th Street in Brooklyn left a 29-year-old pedestrian injured. According to the police report, a cyclist traveling south struck the pedestrian, causing an abrasion to the pedestrian's arm. The cyclist, a 39-year-old man, was not injured. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the data. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The incident highlights the danger of speed, even on a bike, for those on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820140 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 13 - 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

Jun 11 - A sedan making a right turn hit a cyclist going straight on 4th Avenue. The cyclist, 31, suffered abrasions. Police cite failure to yield. The car showed no damage. The bike’s front was struck.

A sedan struck a cyclist at 4th Avenue and 62nd Street in Brooklyn. The cyclist, a 31-year-old man, was injured with abrasions to his entire body. According to the police report, the sedan was making a right turn while the cyclist was traveling straight ahead. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The sedan's right front quarter panel hit the bike's center front end. The cyclist was wearing a helmet. No injuries were reported for the sedan’s driver. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to yield to cyclists.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820058 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 11 - City will block cars from corners. Barriers, granite, planters will clear sightlines. DOT acts after half of deaths hit at intersections. Brooklyn gets first fixes. Cyclists and walkers may see drivers before impact. Steel and stone replace painted lines.

The Brooklyn Paper reported on June 11, 2025, that NYC DOT will redesign intersections to protect cyclists and pedestrians. The plan uses 'hardened daylighting'—physical barriers, granite blocks, and planters—to stop cars from parking near corners. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'Using barriers to clear space at the intersection will help ensure pedestrians, cyclists and turning vehicles can see each other and enhance safety.' Nearly half of city traffic deaths happen at intersections, often due to blocked sightlines and turning vehicles. The redesign targets high-crash Brooklyn intersections first, including Ocean Avenue at Church Avenue. The move highlights the city's shift from painted lines to physical infrastructure, aiming to reduce systemic risk for vulnerable road users.

• NYC DOT Targets Intersection Danger Zones, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 6 - A sedan hit a 16-year-old girl in the crosswalk. She crossed with the signal. Her leg was bruised. The car’s bumper struck her. The driver was not hurt. Police list no clear cause.

A 16-year-old pedestrian was hit by a sedan while crossing 5th Avenue at 21st Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal at the intersection when the vehicle, making a right turn, struck her with its right front bumper. She suffered a contusion to her lower leg and remained conscious. The driver and another occupant were not injured. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are cited in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821955 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 6 - Two sedans crashed on Terrace Place in Brooklyn. Both drivers suffered bruises. Police cite traffic control disregarded. Metal twisted. Airbags burst. The street fell silent. The system failed to protect those inside.

Two sedans collided at Terrace Place and 20th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both drivers were injured: a 56-year-old woman with a leg contusion and a 51-year-old man with an arm bruise. Police list 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The report does not specify which driver failed to obey signals or signs. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. Airbags deployed in both cars. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No other contributing factors are listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818899 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 6 - A 26-year-old cyclist was struck and injured by an SUV turning right on 4th Avenue at 52nd Street. The crash threw the cyclist from his bike. He suffered leg injuries. The SUV driver and passenger were not reported injured.

A crash on 4th Avenue at 52nd Street in Brooklyn left a 26-year-old cyclist injured. According to the police report, the cyclist was traveling north when a 2023 Toyota SUV, also heading north, made a right turn and struck him. The impact ejected the cyclist from his bike, causing abrasions and injuries to his lower leg and foot. The SUV's driver and a passenger, both 59-year-old men, were not reported injured. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The cyclist was not using any safety equipment, as noted in the report, but no helmet or signaling issues were listed as contributing factors. The data does not specify any driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818260 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 4 - A sedan with faulty headlights hit a moped at 5th Avenue and 62nd Street. One man suffered leg injuries. Police cite driver distraction and defective headlights as causes.

A sedan and a moped collided at 5th Avenue and 62nd Street in Brooklyn. The crash left a 54-year-old man with leg injuries. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Headlights Defective' contributed to the crash. Both vehicles showed damage, with the moped struck on its left side and the sedan's front end impacted. The report lists defective headlights as a factor for both the driver and another occupant. No mention of helmet or signaling issues appears in the data. The crash highlights the danger when drivers operate vehicles with faulty equipment and lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818251 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 4 - A 19-year-old motorcyclist was ejected and hurt on 58th Street in Brooklyn. The crash left him with hip and internal injuries. He was conscious at the scene. The cause remains unspecified.

A 19-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected and injured while traveling north on 58th Street at 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the rider suffered hip and internal injuries but remained conscious after the crash. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or road users were involved. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. The impact and damage centered on the motorcycle's front end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818252 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19