Blood on the Asphalt: Hold Precinct 78 Accountable Now

Jun 9 - A tractor truck passed too close. Metal struck metal. One driver hurt. Bruised and shaken. Brooklyn night, heavy machines, careless space.

A tractor truck making a right turn struck a parked flatbed on 2nd Avenue at 14th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Passing Too Closely.' The driver of the tractor truck, a 21-year-old man, suffered a contusion to his abdomen and pelvis. No other injuries were specified. The report lists 'Passing Too Closely' as the contributing factor. No mention of helmet or signal use was made.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820472 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

Jun 6 - Court Street bleeds from double parking and swerving cars. Cyclists and walkers dodge danger daily. DOT will cut a lane, add a protected bike path, and shrink space for reckless driving. Fewer lanes, fewer crashes. Safety, not speed, takes the street.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-06-06) reports the Department of Transportation will install a protected bike lane on Brooklyn’s Court Street, a corridor plagued by double parking and sideswipe crashes. DOT’s Chris Brunson said, “The narrower street width for vehicles will de-incentivize double parking on the corridor.” The redesign removes a travel lane, adds a protected bike lane, and aims to curb driver behavior that leads to crashes. Between 2022 and 2024, 165 crashes on this mile-long stretch caused one death and injured 15 cyclists and 23 pedestrians. Most pedestrian injuries happened while crossing with the light, showing drivers failed to yield. The plan targets excess road capacity and prioritizes vulnerable users on a Vision Zero Priority Corridor.

• DOT Plans Protected Bike Lane Court Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-06

Jun 5 - A 71-year-old cyclist lost consciousness and died while riding north on Center Drive. No other vehicles involved. The street stayed quiet. The crash left one dead.

A 71-year-old man riding a bike north on Center Drive died after losing consciousness. According to the police report, the only contributing factor was 'Lost Consciousness.' No other vehicles or people were involved. The cyclist was found unconscious and not ejected from the bike. The report lists no vehicle damage and no other errors. The crash ended with the rider's death and no further injuries reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824644 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

Jun 3 - A teen was ejected and injured when an SUV failed to yield on Atlantic Avenue at Flatbush. The crash left the 15-year-old bleeding and in shock. Center front and left bumper damage marked the impact. The street bore the cost.

A crash on Atlantic Avenue at Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn involved a station wagon/SUV and left a 15-year-old male injured and ejected from a vehicle. According to the police report, the SUV was traveling east and struck another vehicle at the center front and left front bumper. The injured teen suffered knee and lower leg injuries and was reported in shock with minor bleeding. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. Multiple occupants, including a 66-year-old male, were involved but did not report injuries. The crash data also notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a secondary factor. The impact underscores the danger when drivers fail to yield on busy city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817838 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

Jun 3 - A motorcycle and SUV crashed on Flatbush Avenue. Two drivers hurt. Police cite failure to yield and blocked views. Metal struck flesh. Pain and shock followed. Brooklyn street, midday. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

A collision between a motorcycle and an SUV occurred on Flatbush Avenue at 6th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both drivers were injured: a 48-year-old man on the motorcycle suffered leg injuries and pain, while a 38-year-old woman driving the SUV sustained a back injury and shock. Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors. The motorcycle driver was unlicensed. The report details that both vehicles were traveling straight before the crash. The impact left two people hurt and exposed the dangers of obstructed views and ignored right-of-way on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817696 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

May 27 - A moped and a Ford collided on 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. The moped rider, 24, suffered a hip injury. Police cite obstructed view and improper lane use. Metal struck flesh. The street did not forgive. The city kept moving.

A crash on 3rd Avenue at 10th Street in Brooklyn involved a Ford and a moped. According to the police report, the moped rider, age 24, was injured in the hip and upper leg. The Ford was making a right turn while the moped traveled straight. Police list 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The moped’s front end struck the Ford’s right side. The report notes the moped rider was not using safety equipment. No other injuries were specified. The crash highlights the dangers faced by riders when visibility and lane discipline fail.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816042 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

May 26 - A driver struck Tiffany Cifuni after a fender-bender in Bedford-Stuyvesant. She was pregnant. The driver dragged her down a one-way street, crashed again, then fled. Cifuni’s family mourns. The street holds the mark of violence and loss.

NY Daily News reported on May 26, 2025, that Tiffany Cifuni, 32, was killed after a Chevy Trax rear-ended her on Van Buren St. in Brooklyn. Cifuni exited her vehicle to confront the driver, who then ran her over and dragged her down the street. The driver fled, crashing into two more vehicles before abandoning the car. The article quotes Cifuni’s husband: “I lost my whole family tonight.” Surveillance footage captured the confrontation and the fatal impact. The incident highlights the lethal risk of driver aggression and the dangers of hit-and-run crashes. The driver’s decision to flee and drive the wrong way down a one-way street escalated the harm, underscoring systemic failures in street safety and enforcement.

• Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-26

May 21 - SUV cut left on Union Street. Cyclist hit, thrown, leg smashed. Pain, shock, blood on the street. Failure to yield. Brooklyn night, sirens wail.

A 52-year-old woman riding a bike was hit and injured by an SUV making a left turn on Union Street at 5th Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The cyclist was ejected and suffered injuries to her leg, reporting pain and shock. The SUV driver was licensed in Georgia. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants. The police report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814764 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

May 18 - A cyclist riding south on 4th Avenue suffered a fractured arm after a vehicle passed too closely. The crash left the rider in shock and pain. Improper lane use played a role.

A 34-year-old male cyclist was injured on 4th Avenue at 5th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash involved a bike and another unspecified vehicle, both traveling south. The cyclist suffered a fractured and dislocated upper arm and was left in shock. The report lists 'Passing Too Closely' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The cyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814147 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

May 16 - A woman walked with the light. A Mercedes struck her. Bones broke. She died in the crosswalk. The driver sped through. The street stayed silent. The city failed to protect her.

Streetsblog NYC reported on May 16, 2025, that Maurette Lafleur, 68, died after a driver in a 2025 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 struck her as she crossed Rutland Road at E. 95th Street in East Flatbush. Lafleur was in the crosswalk, with the signal to walk. A witness said, "The lady spin around and sped through." The driver, a 64-year-old woman, has not been charged. The vehicle had one prior violation for blocking a bus lane. The article highlights the lack of immediate accountability and calls for stronger pedestrian protections: "The government should do something, like when people are walking, no cars should be moving."

• Driver Kills Pedestrian In Crosswalk, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-16

May 15 - A Mercedes turned left onto Rutland Road. The car struck Maurette Lafleur, 68, in the crosswalk. Medics rushed her to the hospital. She died. The driver stayed. No charges. The street stayed open. The danger stayed.

NY Daily News reported on May 15, 2025, that Maurette Lafleur, 68, was killed while crossing Rutland Road at E. 94th St. in East Flatbush. The article states, "Maurette Lafleur was in the crosswalk...when the driver of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz slammed into her." Police said the 64-year-old driver was turning left from E. 95th St. onto Rutland Road when the crash occurred. Lafleur was transported to Kings County Hospital but could not be saved. The driver remained at the scene and faced no immediate charges. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians in marked crosswalks and raises questions about intersection safety and left-turn protocols.

• Mercedes Driver Kills Woman In Crosswalk, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-15

May 14 - A sedan hit a 63-year-old woman crossing Flatbush Avenue. She suffered a head injury. The driver failed to yield. The street stayed loud. The crosswalk did not protect her.

A 63-year-old woman was struck by a sedan while crossing Flatbush Avenue at Prospect Place in Brooklyn. She was crossing with the signal and suffered a head injury. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield the right-of-way while making a left turn. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. No other contributing factors were noted. The driver was licensed and not using safety equipment. The crash left the pedestrian injured and exposed the danger at this intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814165 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

May 13 - Sedan and box truck collided on 4th Avenue. Two people hurt. Police cite improper lane use and driver distraction. Metal twisted. Pain followed.

A sedan and a box truck crashed on 4th Avenue at 6th Street in Brooklyn. Two occupants suffered injuries: a 29-year-old woman with back pain and a 28-year-old man with neck whiplash. According to the police report, both vehicles were cited for 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The impact struck the front quarter panels of both vehicles. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left passengers and drivers shaken and hurt. Helmet or signal use was not listed as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814163 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

May 8 - SUV cut right on Flatbush. E-bike rider struck, leg bloodied. Driver distracted, used lane wrong. Streets failed the cyclist.

A station wagon SUV making a right turn on Flatbush Avenue collided with a southbound e-bike. The 39-year-old e-bike rider suffered a knee and lower leg injury. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' were listed as contributing factors. The SUV's right front hit the e-bike's left side. The cyclist was left with abrasions. Systemic danger and driver error put the vulnerable rider in harm's way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811560 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

May 7 - SUV slammed left rear. Two passengers hurt, one with back pain, one with shoulder injury. Driver also injured. Police list cause as unspecified. Brooklyn street, night, sharp impact.

An SUV struck its left rear quarter panel near Prospect Park West in Brooklyn at 10 p.m. Three people inside were injured: a 40-year-old woman suffered a shoulder injury, a 41-year-old man had back pain, and the 42-year-old male driver was also hurt. According to the police report, the cause was 'unspecified.' No driver errors were listed. The crash left passengers with whiplash and other injuries. The report does not mention any contributing factors beyond 'unspecified.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811228 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

May 6 - A principal drove down Lenox Road, lost control, hit parked cars, and flipped his vehicle. Police pulled him from the wreck. He refused a Breathalyzer. Charges followed. The street bore the scars. The system let him drive. The danger stayed.

According to NY Daily News (2025-05-06), Gregory Jackson, principal of Brownsville Collaborative Middle School, crashed on Lenox Road near Utica Ave. Police say he struck several parked cars and overturned his vehicle around 11:30 p.m. Jackson told police he had 'only one drink.' He refused a Breathalyzer test at the scene. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while impaired, and refusing the test. The Department of Education referred questions to the NYPD. The incident highlights the ongoing risk posed by impaired drivers and the vulnerability of anyone near city streets, even when parked. Systemic gaps allow such danger to persist.

• Principal Overturns Car In Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-06

May 2 - 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

Apr 30 - A driver sped through a police blockade on the Belt Parkway. He nearly hit a lieutenant. The officer fired. The driver died at the scene. A passenger was arrested. The lieutenant suffered minor injuries. The road closed for investigation.

amNY reported on April 30, 2025, that NYPD officers shot and killed a driver in Brooklyn after a chase on the Belt Parkway. Police said the car had mismatched, stolen Pennsylvania plates. Chief John Chell stated, "They observed a suspicious Porsche with suspicious plates." Officers tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled, re-entered the parkway, and drove through a police blockade, nearly striking a lieutenant. The officer fired, hitting the driver in the chest. The driver died at the scene. A passenger was detained. The article highlights the risks of high-speed chases and the dangers posed by erratic driving and police intervention on city roads.

• Police Kill Driver After Parkway Chase, amny, Published 2025-04-30

Apr 25 - A driver turned left and struck a woman crossing in East New York. The crash killed her. Police charged the driver months later. The street stayed busy. The danger stayed real.

NY Daily News reported on April 25, 2025, that Megan Martin, 30, was arrested for fatally striking Janet Henriquez, 57, at Blake Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash happened on January 24, just before 9:00 a.m. Police said Martin was making a left turn when she hit Henriquez, who was crossing the street. Charges include failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care. The article notes, 'Megan Martin was arrested on Wednesday following a police investigation.' The case highlights persistent risks at busy intersections and the consequences when drivers do not yield to people crossing.

• Driver Charged After Brooklyn Pedestrian Death, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-25

Apr 24 - A turning SUV hit a cyclist on Bergen Street. The rider suffered leg injuries. Shock rippled through the scene. No driver errors listed. The crash left scars and questions.

A crash on Bergen Street in Brooklyn involved two SUVs and a cyclist. The cyclist, a 60-year-old man, suffered injuries to his lower leg and was in shock. According to the police report, one SUV was making a U-turn when the collision happened. No specific driver errors were listed in the report. The cyclist wore a helmet, as noted in the data. The crash left the cyclist hurt and others shaken, but the report does not detail further contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809255 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09