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

May 6 - A sedan hit a 23-year-old man crossing from behind parked cars on Court Street. The impact left him with arm injuries. Police list all factors as unspecified. Systemic danger remains.

A sedan traveling south on Court Street struck a 23-year-old pedestrian who was emerging from behind parked vehicles. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to his arm. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are specified in the data. The crash also involved two vehicle occupants, both uninjured. The incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by pedestrians navigating streets lined with parked cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810849 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 4 - A volunteer EMT hit a 19-year-old crossing McDonald Avenue. The crash happened at night. Lights and sirens blared. The young man suffered severe head trauma. Medics rushed him to the hospital. The driver stayed. Police are investigating.

According to NY Daily News (2025-05-04), a Hatzolah volunteer EMT driving a smart car struck a 19-year-old pedestrian at McDonald Avenue and Avenue P in Brooklyn around 1:20 a.m. The article states, “The 39-year-old driver was behind the wheel of a smart car for the ambulance service, going north on McDonald Ave., lights and sirens on, when he struck the pedestrian as he was crossing.” The pedestrian suffered critical head injuries and was transported to Maimonides Hospital. The driver remained at the scene. Police are investigating the crash. The incident highlights the risks faced by pedestrians, even when emergency vehicles are present. No charges have been filed as of publication.

• EMT Strikes Pedestrian On McDonald Ave, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-04

May 2 - Box truck struck parked SUV on Clinton Street. One driver injured. Police cite passing too closely. Metal and glass. Pain in the back. System failed to protect.

A box truck hit a parked SUV on Clinton Street at Remsen Street in Brooklyn. One driver, a 58-year-old woman, suffered back injuries and whiplash. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Passing Too Closely.' The SUV was parked when the truck, making a left turn, struck its left rear quarter panel. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810016 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 30 - A stolen Porsche sped through Brooklyn. Police set a roadblock. The car veered toward officers. One fired. The driver, struck, crashed again and died at the hospital. The chase ended in Starrett City. No officers or passengers were reported hurt.

Gothamist reported on April 30, 2025, that NYPD officers shot and killed a man driving a stolen Porsche after a chase on the Belt Parkway. Police said the driver, spotted near Brighton Beach, "maneuvered onto the service road in [the] direction of several officers who set up a roadblock to stop this vehicle." When the driver "veered toward one of the officers and nearly hit him," an officer fired, striking the driver. The car continued another mile before crashing again. The driver died at Brookdale Hospital. The incident was captured on police body cameras. Officers were treated at local hospitals but not injured. The article notes this was the fourth fatal police shooting by NYPD in 2025. The event highlights risks of high-speed chases and the dangers posed by fleeing vehicles near roadblocks.

• Police Shoot Driver After Parkway Chase, Gothamist, Published 2025-04-30

Apr 29 - A taxi took a hard hit from behind on Myrtle Avenue. One passenger suffered a back injury. The crash came from following too closely. Metal crumpled. Shock lingered.

A taxi and a sedan collided on Myrtle Avenue near Flatbush Avenue Extension in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash occurred when one vehicle followed too closely, striking the taxi from behind. A 39-year-old woman riding as a rear passenger in the taxi was injured, suffering a back injury and shock. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact damaged the center front end of the sedan and the center back end of the taxi. No other injuries were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811155 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 29 - A multi-wheeled vehicle struck a stopped cruiser on Livingston Street. One driver suffered back injuries. Police cite following too closely as the cause.

A multi-wheeled vehicle rear-ended a stopped CAN AM Spyder cruiser at 141 Livingston Street in Brooklyn. One driver, age 47, was injured with back abrasions. According to the police report, 'Following Too Closely' was the contributing factor. The impact damaged the back end of the cruiser. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809326 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 24 - A 101-year-old woman crossed with the light. An SUV turned left. The driver was unlicensed. She died days later. Her family mourns. The street remains the same.

According to the New York Post (April 24, 2025), Taibel Brod, 101, was fatally struck by a 2023 GMC Yukon while crossing Brooklyn Avenue at Montgomery Street in Crown Heights. Police say Brod had the light. The driver, Menachem Shagalow, 65, was unlicensed and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to exercise due care. The article quotes Brod's grandson: "She was extremely independent till her last day." Brod died less than two weeks after the crash. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians, especially from unlicensed drivers. Shagalow was released with a desk appearance ticket. The case underscores persistent gaps in enforcement and street design that leave vulnerable road users exposed.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Brooklyn Matriarch, New York Post, Published 2025-04-24

Apr 23 - Taibel Brod crossed with the light. The SUV turned left, struck her. She fell. Two weeks later, she died. The driver had no license. Police charged him. The street stayed open. The city moved on.

NY Daily News reported on April 23, 2025, that Taibel Brod, 101, was killed after an SUV hit her while she crossed Montgomery St. in Crown Heights with the walk signal. The driver, Menachem Shagalow, turned left without a license and struck Brod. Police charged him with aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to exercise due care. The article quotes Brod’s son, who called the crash a "tragedy." Brod died from her injuries nearly two weeks later. The case highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians, especially from unlicensed drivers and left turns at intersections. No changes to the street were reported.

• Unlicensed SUV Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-23

Apr 21 - SUV hit a cyclist on Nassau Street. The rider, a 20-year-old woman, suffered leg injuries. Police cite unsafe speed. The SUV showed no damage. The bike took the blow head-on.

A collision on Nassau Street in Brooklyn left a 20-year-old female cyclist injured after an SUV struck her. According to the police report, the crash involved a bike and a station wagon or SUV, both traveling straight. The cyclist suffered abrasions and injuries to her lower leg and knee. Police list 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The SUV sustained no damage, while the bike was hit at the center front end. The cyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807636 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 16 - New research from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets announced a report detailing NYC's top 10 super speeders.

• Road report: Here’s where lead-foot drivers repeatedly get speed-camera tickets in NYC, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-04-16

Apr 10 - A Honda SUV turned left on Atlantic Avenue. A moped went straight. Metal crashed. The moped driver hit the pavement, leg bruised. Sirens wailed. Driver error: improper turn, inattention.

A Honda SUV turned left at Atlantic Avenue and Nevins Street in Brooklyn, striking a moped traveling straight. The moped driver, age 31, suffered a bruised leg but remained conscious and wore a helmet. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Turning Improperly' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The SUV's right side was crushed. No injuries were reported for the SUV driver. The moped driver was the only person hurt in the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805583 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 10 - A driver ran a stop sign in East New York. He slammed into a school bus. His passenger died. The bus driver was hurt. The driver fled but police caught him. The street stayed stained. The system failed to protect.

According to amNY (April 10, 2025), Tyree Epps faces charges after a deadly crash at Van Sinderen and Blake avenues. Epps, unlicensed, "blew a stop sign" and struck a school bus, killing his passenger, Imani Vance, and injuring the bus driver. The article quotes Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez: "The tragic loss of Imani Vance was allegedly caused by the defendant's reckless decision to ignore a stop sign and drive at excessive speeds." Epps left the scene, tried to escape in an Uber, and was arrested after fleeing on foot. The crash was one of three fatal Brooklyn incidents that weekend. City data cited in the article shows ongoing danger: at least 15 killed in Kings County so far this year, with thousands injured, often due to driver inattention and failure to yield. The charges and details highlight persistent risks and enforcement gaps on city streets.

• Brooklyn Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, amny, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 9 - A motorcycle and sedan collided on Flatbush Ave. The rider was ejected and suffered a fractured leg. Both vehicles passed too closely. Night, speed, metal, bone.

A motorcycle and a sedan crashed on Flatbush Avenue near Fulton Street in Brooklyn. The 36-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected and suffered a fractured leg. According to the police report, both drivers were 'Passing Too Closely.' The motorcycle rider was unlicensed. The sedan driver was licensed. The report lists 'Passing Too Closely' as the main contributing factor. The motorcycle rider wore a helmet, as noted in the report, but the crash still caused serious injury. No injuries were reported for the sedan driver or the other occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804674 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 9 - A driver ran a stop sign in East New York. He slammed into a school bus. His passenger died. The bus driver was hurt. The driver fled in an Uber. Police caught him soon after. Streets remain unforgiving.

Gothamist (April 9, 2025) reports that Tyree Epps, 32, was indicted after allegedly running a stop sign and crashing into a school bus in East New York, Brooklyn. The February collision killed his 26-year-old passenger, Imani Vance, and injured the bus driver. According to the Brooklyn DA, Epps "ignored a stop sign and drove at excessive speeds," then left the scene by calling an Uber, abandoning his injured passenger. The impact pushed the bus into a third, empty vehicle. No children on the bus were harmed. Epps was apprehended after fleeing on foot. The case highlights persistent dangers at intersections and the lethal consequences of ignoring traffic controls.

• Brooklyn Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, Gothamist, Published 2025-04-09

Apr 8 - A sedan hit a 26-year-old man in the crosswalk. The driver failed to yield. The man suffered a head injury. The street stayed loud. The danger stayed real.

A sedan struck a 26-year-old male pedestrian at the intersection of Hoyt Street and Schermerhorn Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the driver, making a right turn, failed to yield the right-of-way. The impact caused a concussion and head injury to the pedestrian, who remained conscious. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. No vehicle damage was reported. The crash highlights the risk pedestrians face even when following signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804567 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 7 - Parked SUV door flung open. Cyclist’s arm torn. Blood on Atlantic Avenue. Driver stands unharmed. Distraction behind the steel. Another wound for Brooklyn streets.

A 26-year-old man riding his bike west on Atlantic Avenue was struck when a parked SUV’s door opened into his path. According to the police report, the cyclist’s arm was split open, leaving him with severe lacerations. The 71-year-old SUV driver was not injured. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to check for cyclists before opening doors. No helmet or signal use was cited as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804626 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 3 - A car turned left on Court Street. A four-year-old crossed with the signal. The bumper struck his leg. His knee crushed. The driver failed to yield. Steel met flesh. A child lay broken.

A four-year-old boy was struck and injured while crossing Court Street at Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child crossed with the signal when a car turned left and hit him, crushing his knee. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Passenger Distraction' as contributing factors. The boy remained conscious after the crash. The driver’s failure to yield is called out in the official account. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803267 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 3 - Two sedans crashed on Joralemon Street. A 56-year-old driver suffered abrasions. Passengers, including a 61-year-old woman, were shaken. No driver errors listed. Streets stay dangerous.

Two sedans collided on Joralemon Street at Clinton Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a 56-year-old male driver was injured with abrasions to his entire body. A 61-year-old female front passenger and several other occupants reported unspecified injuries. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report lists no contributing factors or driver errors. Both vehicles were sedans, one traveling straight, the other parked. The crash left one driver hurt and others affected. No helmet or signal issues were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804043 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 2 - A car plowed through families on Ocean Parkway. Three killed. Survivors hurt, shaken, haunted. The driver had a suspended license, dozens of violations, unpaid fines. The city’s streets failed to protect the most vulnerable. Pain lingers. Justice waits.

ABC7 reported on April 2, 2025, that a crash in Brooklyn killed a mother and her two daughters, leaving another family injured and traumatized. The article states, “Shakhzod described ongoing back pain and fears of another accident.” The driver, Miriam Yarimi, had 93 violations, $10,000 in unpaid fines, and a suspended license. She struck an Uber, then hit families crossing Ocean Parkway, flipping her vehicle. Yarimi faces charges including manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. The crash exposes systemic failure: a driver with a long record remained on the road. Survivors suffer lasting physical and emotional wounds. The city’s enforcement and oversight remain under scrutiny.

• Brooklyn Crash Leaves Family Scarred, Three Dead, ABC7, Published 2025-04-02