Precinct 84: Four dead, hundreds hurt, the same streets keep breaking people

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 - 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 - 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 10 - Two sedans struck on the Brooklyn Bridge. Three people injured. Bruises, whiplash, pain. Police cite passing too closely. Metal and bodies jarred. Night, city, sirens. System failed again.

Two sedans crashed on the Brooklyn Bridge. Three occupants were injured, suffering neck and arm bruises and whiplash. According to the police report, the collision was caused by 'Passing Too Closely' and 'Other Vehicular' factors. Both vehicles were traveling west when the impact occurred. The report lists no errors by those injured. Driver error—passing too closely—was the main cause. No mention of helmet or signal use as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820376 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 7 - A sedan hit two elderly pedestrians in Brooklyn. Both were crossing with the signal. The car turned left and failed to yield. One man suffered a bruised leg. One woman hurt her arm. The driver moved too fast. The street stayed dangerous.

Two pedestrians, aged 87 and 85, were struck by a sedan while crossing Court Street at Livingston Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both pedestrians were crossing with the signal at the intersection when the sedan, making a left turn, failed to yield and hit them. The 87-year-old man suffered a contusion to his knee and lower leg, while the 85-year-old woman sustained injuries to her arm and hand. Both were conscious after the crash. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The driver, a 26-year-old man, was operating a 2011 Honda sedan registered in Pennsylvania. No helmet or signal use by the pedestrians was cited as a factor. The crash highlights the persistent danger for those on foot in New York City intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819096 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 5 - A cyclist and a moped collided on Bergen Street in Brooklyn. The crash left the cyclist bruised and hurt in the upper arm. Police cited driver inattention. The street saw blood and confusion. The system failed to protect the vulnerable.

A crash involving a bike and a moped occurred at 342 Bergen Street in Brooklyn. One cyclist, a 33-year-old man, suffered a contusion and upper arm injury. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor in the collision. The cyclist was conscious after the crash. No helmet or signaling issues were cited as contributing factors. The moped sustained damage to its center back end, while the bike showed no visible damage. The crash highlights the danger faced by cyclists when drivers lose focus, and underscores the risks that persist on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818673 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 5 - An SUV turned right on Nevins Street. An e-scooter rider went straight. The crash threw him off. He hit the ground hard. His leg bruised. Police cite driver inattention. The street stayed busy. The danger stayed real.

An SUV and an e-scooter collided at Nevins Street and Schermerhorn Street in Brooklyn. The e-scooter rider, a 38-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a contusion to his lower leg. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The SUV was making a right turn while the e-scooter traveled straight. The SUV's right front bumper struck the e-scooter, which took the impact at its center front end. The police report lists no other contributing factors. The e-scooter rider was conscious after the crash. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818681 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 26 - Two sedans collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Five people inside. One passenger suffered a neck injury. Police blamed passenger distraction. Metal twisted. Whiplash followed. The road stayed dangerous.

Two sedans crashed on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Five occupants were involved. According to the police report, 'Passenger Distraction' was the contributing factor. One passenger, a 26-year-old woman, was injured with neck pain and whiplash. The other four occupants, including both drivers, were not seriously hurt. Both vehicles were traveling west and struck at the center front and back ends. The report lists no other contributing factors. The crash highlights the risk when attention lapses behind the wheel. No mention of helmet or turn signal use appears in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815988 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 25 - A maroon Chevy struck a car from behind in Brooklyn. The woman inside stepped out. The driver ran her over and dragged her. She died in the street. The driver fled. Police search for answers.

CBS New York reported on May 25, 2025, that a woman was killed in Brooklyn after a maroon Chevy rear-ended her car. According to police, 'when she got out to approach the vehicle she was run over and dragged.' The driver did not remain at the scene. The incident highlights the lethal risk posed by drivers who flee after collisions. The NYPD is searching for the suspect. The case underscores ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users and the urgent need for stronger enforcement and street design to prevent such deaths.

• Woman Run Down After Brooklyn Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-05-25

May 23 - A sedan struck a cyclist at Smith Street. The driver was distracted. The cyclist, a 24-year-old man, was ejected and bruised his leg. Both vehicles moved north. The crash left the cyclist hurt and the car damaged.

A crash at 175 Smith Street in Brooklyn involved a sedan and a cyclist. The cyclist, a 24-year-old man, was ejected from his bike and suffered a contusion to his lower leg. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor. The sedan, driven by a 21-year-old woman, was entering a parked position when the collision occurred. Both vehicles were traveling north. The police report does not specify injuries to the sedan's occupants. The cyclist was the only person reported injured. The data lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815165 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 22 - A sedan hit a 15-year-old boy crossing Gold Street at Nassau. The car’s front end struck his lower leg. He was conscious, bruised, and hurt. The driver failed to yield and ignored the signal. The street stayed busy. The danger stayed real.

A 15-year-old pedestrian was injured when a sedan struck him at the intersection of Gold Street and Nassau Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the boy was crossing with the signal when the vehicle, traveling north, hit him with its center front end. The impact caused a contusion to his knee and lower leg, but he remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The data shows the driver did not yield and ignored traffic controls. No helmet or signal use by the pedestrian is cited as a factor. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to people on foot in city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815327 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 21 - Two sedans collided on Adams Street in Brooklyn. A distracted driver struck a stopped car. A 62-year-old passenger suffered back injuries and whiplash. Metal crumpled. The street bore the mark of inattention.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed on Adams Street near Prospect Street in Brooklyn. One sedan was stopped in traffic when another, traveling south, struck it from behind. Six people were involved. A 62-year-old front passenger suffered back injuries and whiplash. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The impact damaged the right rear bumper of the stopped sedan and the right front bumper of the striking car. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814602 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - A car struck Maurette Lafleur in the crosswalk. She had the signal. The driver sped through. Bones broke. She died on Rutland Road. The street stayed loud. Witnesses watched. The city’s crackdown missed the real threat.

Streetsblog NYC reported on May 16, 2025, that a 68-year-old woman, Maurette Lafleur, was killed by a driver while crossing Rutland Road at E. 95th Street in East Flatbush. Lafleur was in the crosswalk with the walk signal when the driver of a 2025 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 struck her. A witness told Streetsblog, "The lady spin around and sped through," and described hearing the impact. The article notes that police have not released the driver's name. The incident occurred as NYPD focused enforcement on electric bikes, while drivers continue to cause deadly harm. The tragedy highlights the ongoing danger to pedestrians and raises questions about city policy and street design.

• Driver Kills Senior In East Flatbush, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-16

May 15 - A bus hit a box truck on Tillary Street. One driver suffered arm and shoulder injuries. Police cite failure to yield. Metal and glass scattered. Shock followed. System failed to protect.

A bus and a box truck collided on Tillary Street at Cadman Plaza East in Brooklyn. One driver, a 30-year-old woman, was injured in the arm and shoulder and reported shock. According to the police report, the crash involved a 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' Both vehicles were traveling east. The bus was changing lanes when it struck the right side of the box truck. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported hurt. The system allowed heavy vehicles to clash, leaving injury and disruption in their wake.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813622 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 15 - A car struck Larry Maxwell, 72, on Sutter Avenue. The driver had just crashed into another vehicle and fled. Maxwell died at Brookdale Hospital. The driver did not stop. Police are still searching. No arrests. The street stayed quiet.

NY Daily News reported on May 15, 2025, that Larry Maxwell, 72, was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The article states, “An elderly man was mowed down and killed by a hit-and-run driver in Brooklyn on May 10, just seconds after the same driver smashed into a nearby vehicle.” The driver first collided with a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu, then continued on and struck Maxwell near Sutter Ave. and Osborn St. The Malibu’s occupants were uninjured and remained at the scene. The driver who killed Maxwell fled and remains unidentified. The NYPD Highway District collision investigation squad is investigating. No arrests have been made. The case highlights the lethal risk of fleeing drivers and the ongoing challenge of enforcement.

• Hit-And-Run Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-15

May 14 - SUV struck a pedestrian crossing with the signal. Three passengers hurt. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield. Pain, abrasion, and injury marked the scene.

An SUV making a left turn on Court Street at Wyckoff Street in Brooklyn struck a 23-year-old woman as she crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the driver was inattentive and failed to yield the right-of-way. The pedestrian suffered an arm abrasion. Two passengers, ages 57 and 97, reported pain and neck or back injuries. The driver and another occupant were also involved. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The crash left multiple people hurt, with the pedestrian injured while lawfully crossing.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812814 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 12 - Five killed. Forty badly hurt. Conduit Avenue runs fast and bare. No signals. No safe crossings. City now calls in neighbors. Promises change. Workshops open. Danger remains until streets change.

Gothamist reported on May 12, 2025, that the city will redesign Conduit Avenue, a three-mile stretch in Brooklyn and Queens where 'more than 40 serious injuries and five deaths' have occurred in five years. The corridor lacks basic pedestrian infrastructure and has 'long stretches without signalized crossings,' which encourages highway-speed driving through residential areas. The Department of Transportation is launching community workshops and an online feedback map to gather public input. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'Brooklyn and Queens Residents deserve a Conduit Boulevard that improves daily life, not a roadway that puts pedestrians and drivers at risk.' The redesign aims to address systemic dangers and create safer, more connected streets.

• City Plans Overhaul Of Conduit Corridor, Gothamist, Published 2025-05-12

May 11 - A cyclist struck at Adams Street. Knee and leg hurt. Shock followed. Helmet worn. Police cite confusion as cause. Brooklyn street stays dangerous.

A 25-year-old woman riding a bike was injured at 117 Adams Street in Brooklyn. She suffered pain and injury to her knee and lower leg, and was in shock. According to the police report, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' contributed to the crash. The cyclist was wearing a helmet. No other driver errors were listed in the report. The incident highlights the persistent risks faced by cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812034 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 8 - A police cruiser slammed into a Nissan at a Brooklyn intersection. Sirens wailed. Metal twisted. An officer lay critically hurt. The Nissan driver survived. The street bore the scars. Another night, another crash. The city keeps moving.

ABC7 reported on May 8, 2025, that an NYPD officer was critically injured when a marked police vehicle collided with a white Nissan Rogue at Willoughby Avenue and Walworth Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Officers were responding to a 911 call for an armed man. The article states, “A marked NYPD vehicle was traveling eastbound on Willoughby Avenue when it collided with a white Nissan Rogue traveling northbound on Walworth Street.” The officer was hospitalized in critical but stable condition; the Nissan driver, age 28, was also hospitalized and is stable. The crash highlights the dangers at intersections, especially during emergency responses. The investigation continues, with no details yet on contributing factors or policy changes.

• NYPD Cruiser Collides With Nissan In Brooklyn, ABC7, Published 2025-05-08