Broken Bodies, Broken Promises: Demand Action on NYC’s Deadly Streets

A 43-year-old woman crossing Flatbush Avenue with the signal was struck by a speeding e-bike. She suffered severe lacerations but remained conscious. The unlicensed rider fled. The e-bike showed no damage. The street held its silence.

A woman, age 43, was injured while crossing Flatbush Avenue near Nevins Street in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The report states she was 'crossing with the light' when a speeding e-bike struck her, causing 'severe lacerations' to her entire body. She remained conscious after the impact. The e-bike operator, described as unlicensed, did not stop at the scene. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The e-bike showed no visible damage. The victim’s action—crossing with the signal—is noted in the report, but the primary focus remains on the rider’s speed, improper lane usage, and lack of a valid license. The crash underscores the dangers posed by reckless operation and systemic failures to control unlicensed riders.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780866, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A female driver suffered neck injuries and shock after her SUV rear-ended a sedan stopped in traffic on Atlantic Avenue. The collision caused bruising and left the driver shaken. Police cited following too closely as the primary cause of the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:45 on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. A 59-year-old female driver, restrained by a lap belt and harness, was injured with a neck contusion and experienced shock. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. The SUV, traveling east, struck the center back end of a sedan that was stopped in traffic. Both vehicles sustained damage at the center back end. The injured driver was not ejected and was wearing proper safety equipment. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The collision highlights the dangers of tailgating and failure to maintain safe distance in traffic, as documented by the police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780092, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 10-year-old girl suffered knee and leg injuries after an SUV failed to yield and struck her at an intersection. The driver’s inattention and failure to yield caused the collision despite the pedestrian crossing with the signal.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on MetroTech Roadway in Brooklyn at 11:35 AM. A Station Wagon/SUV traveling east struck a 10-year-old female pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The report cites the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The point of impact was the center front end of the SUV. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and complained of whiplash. The report explicitly identifies the driver’s failure to yield and distraction as the causes, with no contributing fault attributed to the pedestrian. The driver was alone in the vehicle, which was damaged but details are limited to 'other.' This crash highlights the deadly consequences of driver errors in yielding and attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778928, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A chain-reaction collision on Adams Street in Brooklyn left a 48-year-old male driver with a concussion and head injury. The crash involved multiple vehicles stopped in traffic. Following too closely caused the impact, according to the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:30 on Adams Street in Brooklyn. Multiple vehicles traveling south were stopped in traffic when the collision happened. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the primary contributing factor leading to the crash. A 48-year-old male driver, restrained by a lap belt and conscious after the incident, suffered a head injury and concussion. The vehicles involved included a 2024 BMW sedan, a 2012 Nissan sedan, and a 2022 Toyota SUV. The point of impact was primarily at the center back end and rear bumpers, indicating a rear-end collision sequence. The driver errors cited focus on the failure to maintain safe distance, which triggered the chain-reaction crash. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors in the police report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777565, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan struck the rear of a tractor truck on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The sedan driver, a 29-year-old man, suffered head injuries and whiplash. Police cited following too closely as the primary cause of the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at 1:00 AM. A sedan traveling westbound collided with the center rear of a tractor truck also moving westbound. The sedan driver, a 29-year-old male occupant, was injured with head trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report explicitly identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor attributed to the sedan driver. The tractor truck, a 2015 model registered in New York, sustained front-end damage, while the sedan, a 2010 model registered in Pennsylvania, was damaged at the rear center. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776532, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two SUVs collided on Flatbush Avenue Extension in Brooklyn. A front passenger suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cite following too closely as the cause. Both vehicles traveling southbound, impact on right front quarter panel and left side doors.

According to the police report, two SUVs traveling southbound on Flatbush Avenue Extension collided. The driver of the 2004 Honda SUV, holding a permit license, struck the 2016 Lincoln SUV from behind. The point of impact was the right front quarter panel of the Honda and the left side doors of the Lincoln. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the crash. A 41-year-old female front passenger in the Honda was injured, sustaining neck pain and whiplash, and was conscious at the scene. She was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors. The collision highlights driver error in maintaining unsafe distance between vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776733, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan making a left turn struck an 18-year-old pedestrian crossing Jay Street with the signal. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing the collision at a Brooklyn intersection.

According to the police report, a 2017 Mercedes sedan was making a left turn on Jay Street in Brooklyn at 7:12 p.m. when it struck an 18-year-old male pedestrian crossing the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, classified as injury severity level 3. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the vehicle driver as a contributing factor. The pedestrian was conscious and not ejected from the scene. The sedan sustained damage to its center front end, indicating the point of impact. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian's behavior were noted. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle southbound at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775423, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two vehicles merging westbound on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway collided late at night. The SUV struck the sedan’s left rear bumper. The sedan driver suffered a fractured knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited following too closely and unsafe lane changing.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 23:37 on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway involving a 2004 BMW SUV and a 2018 Audi sedan, both traveling westbound and merging. The SUV impacted the sedan’s left rear bumper, causing damage to both vehicles. The sedan driver, a 44-year-old male, sustained a fractured knee, lower leg, and foot injuries, described as a distorted dislocation. The police report identifies the SUV driver’s errors as 'Following Too Closely' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing.' Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles legally. The injured driver was not ejected and remained conscious. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers of close following distances and unsafe lane changes on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777686, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 36-year-old woman suffered severe leg injuries after an SUV struck her at a Brooklyn intersection. The driver, making a left turn, failed to pay attention, hitting the pedestrian who was crossing with the signal. The impact fractured and dislocated her knee and lower leg.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10 p.m. on Middagh Street near Henry Street in Brooklyn. A 36-year-old female pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2020 Toyota SUV, traveling south and making a left turn, struck her with its left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained a fractured, distorted, and dislocated injury to her knee and lower leg, classified as injury severity 3. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The vehicle showed no damage, indicating the force of impact was concentrated on the pedestrian. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally but failed to yield to the pedestrian crossing legally. No pedestrian errors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773757, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A bus making a right turn struck its own passenger in Brooklyn. Driver inattention and limited view caused impact to the right rear quarter panel. The 36-year-old female occupant suffered upper arm injuries and shock, reporting pain and nausea.

According to the police report, a 2021 bus traveling west on Gold Street in Brooklyn was making a right turn when the crash occurred at 5:30 p.m. The vehicle's right rear quarter panel was the point of impact. The bus driver, a licensed male, was cited for driver inattention and distraction, with limited view contributing to the crash. The injured party was a 36-year-old female passenger seated in the rear of the bus. She was not ejected but suffered upper arm and shoulder injuries, experienced shock, and complained of pain and nausea. The report highlights driver errors—specifically inattention and obstructed view—as the primary causes. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773151, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan collided with an e-bike on 3 Avenue in Brooklyn, injuring the 45-year-old male cyclist. The impact to the cyclist’s left arm caused abrasions. Police cite the sedan driver’s disregard of traffic control as the primary cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:32 AM on 3 Avenue near Bergen Street in Brooklyn. A 2018 sedan traveling south struck a westbound e-bike at the left front quarter panel, causing damage to both vehicles. The e-bike rider, a 45-year-old man, suffered abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but was conscious and not ejected. The police report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' by the sedan driver as the contributing factor. The cyclist’s behavior or helmet use was not cited as a factor. The sedan driver was licensed and driving straight ahead, indicating a failure to yield or stop as required by traffic controls. This collision highlights the dangers posed by drivers ignoring traffic signals and controls in Brooklyn streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773741, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A bus struck a stopped taxi on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. The taxi driver, 68, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited the bus driver’s failure to maintain safe distance as the cause. Both vehicles traveled southbound at the time.

According to the police report, a bus traveling southbound on Flatbush Avenue rear-ended a stopped taxi also heading south. The point of impact was the center front end of the bus and the center back end of the taxi. The taxi driver, a 68-year-old man, was injured with neck pain and whiplash but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report identifies "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor, indicating the bus driver failed to maintain a safe distance behind the taxi. Both drivers were licensed and operating vehicles legally registered in New York. The taxi driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771917, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A van making a left turn collided with an eastbound bicyclist in Brooklyn. The cyclist was ejected and suffered injuries to the elbow, lower arm, and hand. Police cited driver inattention as a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:25 near 323 Dean Street in Brooklyn. A van traveling northeast was making a left turn when it struck a bicyclist traveling east. The point of impact was the van's left front quarter panel and the bike's center front end. The bicyclist, a 54-year-old male, was ejected from his bike and sustained injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor for the van driver. The cyclist was wearing pads but no other safety equipment was noted as a contributing factor. The van driver was licensed and operating a 2013 vehicle. The collision highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction during turning maneuvers in urban traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771700, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A licensed female SUV driver made a right turn on Smith Street in Brooklyn, colliding with a northbound unlicensed male e-bike rider. The e-bike driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited improper lane usage and driver distraction as causes.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Smith Street near Dean Street in Brooklyn at 3:45 PM. A licensed female driver of a 2021 Nissan SUV was making a right turn when she collided with a northbound male e-bike rider who was passing improperly. The e-bike driver, unlicensed and operating the vehicle without safety equipment, sustained injuries to his knee and lower leg, including contusions and bruises. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The SUV showed no damage, while the e-bike's center front end was impacted. The report does not attribute fault to the e-bike rider but highlights driver errors and systemic dangers related to lane usage and attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770105, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A bus turned, steel and glass sweeping the corner. An e-bike rider, seventy-four, thrown down. His head struck, life ended. The street stilled. The door bore the mark. Brooklyn night, another life lost to traffic’s violence.

A 74-year-old man riding an e-bike was killed at the corner of Jay Street and Tillary Street in Brooklyn when a bus struck him while making a right turn, according to the police report. The narrative states the man was 'thrown from the saddle' and suffered fatal head injuries, with 'the door bore the mark' signaling the point of impact on the bus. The police report lists the bus as 'making right turn' and the e-bike as 'going straight ahead.' Both contributing factors are marked as 'Unspecified' in the report. The victim was not wearing a helmet, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The collision ended with the e-bike rider ejected and killed, underscoring the lethal risk faced by vulnerable road users when large vehicles turn across their path.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769478, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan and a carry-all collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at night. The carry-all driver’s unsafe lane change caused a right front impact. The sedan driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash but remained conscious and inside the vehicle.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:50 on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The collision involved a sedan traveling east and a carry-all merging eastbound. The carry-all driver committed 'Unsafe Lane Changing,' cited twice as the contributing factor. The impact occurred at the right front bumper of the carry-all and the left front bumper of the sedan. The sedan driver, a 42-year-old male, sustained neck injuries and complained of whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The report explicitly identifies the carry-all driver’s unsafe lane change as the cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the sedan driver or any victim behavior. The crash highlights the dangers of improper merging maneuvers on high-speed expressways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769450, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 53-year-old woman suffered a severe leg fracture after a sedan failed to yield while making a left turn on Tillary Street. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when struck on the left side, sustaining serious injuries but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling southeast on Tillary Street made a left turn and struck a 53-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection with Jay Street. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor by the driver. The pedestrian sustained a fracture and dislocation to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The driver, a licensed female from Massachusetts, was the sole occupant of the vehicle. The point of impact was the left side doors of the sedan, which showed no damage. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. No other contributing factors were noted beyond the driver's failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769482, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A van making a left turn struck a 28-year-old woman crossing Lafayette Avenue with the signal. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg bruises. The driver failed to yield right-of-way and was inattentive, causing the collision at an intersection in Brooklyn.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Lafayette Avenue at an intersection in Brooklyn at 5:45 a.m. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a van traveling north made a left turn and struck her on the left side doors. The report cites the van driver's failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to the knee and lower leg but remained conscious. The van showed no damage. The collision highlights driver errors—specifically failure to yield and distraction—that directly endangered a lawful pedestrian crossing.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767803, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 27-year-old female bicyclist was ejected and sustained abrasions and lower arm injuries on Jay Street in Brooklyn. The crash involved a single bike traveling northbound, impacting at the center front end. The rider wore a helmet but suffered serious injury.

According to the police report, a 27-year-old female bicyclist riding northbound on Jay Street in Brooklyn was ejected from her bike and sustained abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The crash occurred at 8:57 AM and involved a single bicycle with damage to the center front end. The bicyclist was conscious and wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors or other vehicles involved. The focus remains on the serious injury and ejection of the bicyclist despite helmet use, highlighting the dangers faced by vulnerable road users even in single-vehicle incidents.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763045, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two bicyclists collided at Sands Street in Brooklyn. One rider suffered knee and lower leg injuries with minor bleeding. The crash involved driver inattention and distraction, resulting in a forceful front-end impact between the bikes traveling opposite directions.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:30 PM near 167 Sands Street in Brooklyn. Two bicyclists traveling in opposite directions collided: one was going west straight ahead, the other making a U-turn eastbound. The impact was at the center front end of one bike and the left front bumper of the other. The injured bicyclist, a 35-year-old female wearing a helmet, suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot with minor bleeding and was not ejected from her bike. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted operators even among vulnerable road users on bicycles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759874, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15