No One Protects Us in the Crosswalk

Senate passes bill forcing delivery apps to insure workers and crash victims. Lawmakers tout support for the injured. But insurance comes after the hit. Speeders keep driving. Danger stays on the street. Prevention takes a back seat.

On June 13, 2025, the New York State Senate passed a bill requiring food delivery apps to provide insurance for delivery workers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The bill, sponsored by Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger, mandates up to $50,000 per person for basic economic loss, regardless of citizenship or employment status. Assembly Member Robert Carroll authored the original Assembly version, stating, 'It is time we require delivery apps to take responsibility for keeping delivery workers and pedestrians safe.' Sen. Andrew Gounardes defended a related speed-limiting bill, but it was weakened. Safety analysts warn: 'Focusing on insurance rather than speed limits shifts responsibility away from prevention and system design, failing to reduce crash risk and potentially discouraging mode shift by not addressing the root causes of danger for pedestrians and cyclists.' Lawmakers back insurance, but leave the streets risky.

• Senate Votes to Require Delivery Apps to Provide Insurance for Workers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-13

A cyclist suffered face injuries after an SUV struck him on 20th Avenue in Brooklyn. Police cite alcohol and traffic control disregard. The crash left the cyclist in shock. The road turned violent. The system failed to protect the vulnerable.

A 29-year-old cyclist was injured when a station wagon/SUV collided with his bike on 20th Avenue near 62nd Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, alcohol involvement and traffic control disregarded were contributing factors in the crash. The cyclist suffered crush injuries to the face and was left in shock. The SUV driver, a 66-year-old man, was also listed with alcohol involvement and failure to obey traffic signals. The report makes clear that driver errors—alcohol and ignoring traffic control—led to the crash. The cyclist was not ejected and was not wearing safety equipment, as noted after the driver’s actions. The collision underscores the dangers faced by cyclists on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813557, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A BMW SUV pulled from parking on West 6th. Distraction behind the wheel. A motorcycle struck steel, its rider left bleeding in the street. The helmet could not stop the cut. The city swallowed the sound.

According to the police report, a BMW SUV was 'pulling from parking' near 1770 West 6th Street when a motorcycle traveling south struck the SUV’s front. The 47-year-old motorcyclist suffered severe lacerations to his leg and was found conscious and bleeding. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, placing the focus on the actions of the SUV driver. The narrative notes, 'Distraction. Inexperience. The street held the silence.' The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, but the report makes clear that distraction behind the wheel set the crash in motion. No contributing factors are attributed to the motorcyclist. The impact and injury stemmed from the SUV driver’s failure to pay attention while entering traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805636, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A driver struck a family in Gravesend. A mother and two daughters died. Their young son fights for life. The driver faces manslaughter charges. The street became a site of sudden loss. The system failed to protect the vulnerable.

According to the New York Post (April 6, 2025), Miriam Yarimi faces manslaughter charges after a March 29 crash in Gravesend, Brooklyn, that killed Natasha Saada, 35, and her daughters, Diana, 8, and Debra, 5. Their brother, Philip, 4, remains in critical condition. Court documents detail Yarimi's prior erratic behavior, including 'verbally abusing, cursing, threatening, yelling, and screaming' and 'banging [a] hammer against the door' of a neighbor's apartment days before the crash. Prosecutors noted Yarimi made 'bizarre statements' after the collision. The article highlights a pattern of dangerous conduct and raises questions about oversight and intervention before tragedy struck.

• Brooklyn Crash Kills Mother, Two Daughters, New York Post, Published 2025-04-06

A GMC SUV struck a moped turning on 80th Street near 20th Avenue. The rider, helmeted, was hurled to the pavement, bleeding and torn, left conscious under the harsh streetlight. Metal, flesh, and asphalt collided in Brooklyn’s night.

According to the police report, a GMC SUV collided with a moped at 80th Street near 20th Avenue in Brooklyn at 21:50. The moped rider, age 52, was ejected and suffered severe lacerations across the body but remained conscious at the scene. The narrative states, 'A GMC SUV struck a turning moped. The rider, 52, was thrown hard to the pavement. He lay conscious, helmeted, bleeding, torn across the body beneath the cold white glare of the streetlight.' Both vehicles were making left turns at the time of the crash. The police report lists 'Other Vehicular' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors, highlighting driver error as a key cause. The moped rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary focus remains on the unsafe actions that led to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798376, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A pickup truck turned right at 72nd Street and 21st Avenue, striking a 64-year-old woman in the crosswalk. She lay unconscious, head split, limbs crushed. The driver, distracted, failed to yield. Blood pooled on Brooklyn pavement.

According to the police report, a pickup truck made a right turn at the corner of 72nd Street and 21st Avenue in Brooklyn and struck a 64-year-old woman who was crossing with the signal. The report states she suffered severe head trauma and crush injuries to her limbs, and was found unconscious on the pavement. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The driver, licensed in New York, was operating a Pennsylvania-registered pickup and was reportedly looking elsewhere at the moment of impact. The pedestrian was crossing at the intersection with the signal, as noted in the report. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield and pay attention at crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796531, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A cargo van turned left on Cropsey Avenue. It struck Mayya Gil, 95, and her aide. Gil died. The aide survived. No charges for the driver. Another senior lost to city traffic. The street remains dangerous for the old and frail.

Gothamist (2025-01-26) reports that Mayya Gil, 95, was killed while crossing Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn with her home health aide. According to the NYPD, 'a man driving a cargo van struck both of them while making a left turn.' Gil died from her injuries; her aide was hospitalized. Police did not arrest or charge the driver. The article notes that Gil was the second elderly pedestrian killed in Brooklyn this year, and cites Transportation Alternatives: '46 senior pedestrians were killed in car crashes across the city last year.' The crash highlights the ongoing risk seniors face on city streets, especially at intersections where turning vehicles endanger those crossing on foot.

• Elderly Woman Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-01-26

A Ford SUV swung left at Cropsey and 24th. Its bumper struck a 95-year-old woman’s head. She fell, blood pooling on cold pavement. She died in the street, winter sky above, another life ended by steel and speed.

At the intersection of Cropsey Avenue and 24th Avenue, a Ford SUV making a left turn struck a 95-year-old woman, according to the police report. The vehicle’s left front bumper hit the woman’s head, causing her to fall and suffer severe bleeding. She died at the scene. The police report notes the SUV was making a left turn when the impact occurred, and describes the pedestrian as being at the intersection. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are explicitly cited, but the narrative details the SUV’s movement and the fatal contact. The victim’s actions are described only as 'Other Actions in Roadway,' with no indication of contributing behavior. The focus remains on the lethal outcome of a turning vehicle meeting a vulnerable pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788054, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 70-year-old woman crossed 7th Avenue with the signal. A northbound Toyota turned left, its bumper striking her head. She fell, motionless, and died in the cold midday sun. The driver failed to yield. The street swallowed another life.

According to the police report, a 70-year-old woman was crossing 7th Avenue at 44th Street in Brooklyn with the pedestrian signal when a northbound Toyota sedan made a left turn. The vehicle's left front bumper struck her head, causing her to fall and suffer fatal injuries. The report states the driver failed to yield the right-of-way, listing 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian was described as 'unconscious' at the scene and died there. The police report explicitly notes the pedestrian was 'crossing with signal,' making clear she had the legal right to be in the crosswalk. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver inattention and failure to yield during turning movements at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785620, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Chevy SUV struck a 47-year-old man riding an e-bike on 6th Avenue near 62nd Street. His face hit the pavement. Blood pooled. He stayed conscious, broken and bleeding, as dusk settled over Brooklyn’s streets.

According to the police report, a Chevy SUV collided with a 47-year-old man operating an e-bike on 6th Avenue near 62nd Street in Brooklyn. The report states, 'A Chevy SUV struck a 47-year-old man on an e-bike. His face hit first. Blood pooled on the pavement.' The victim suffered severe facial bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. Both vehicles were reported as 'going straight ahead' before the crash. The SUV's point of impact was the right front bumper, while the e-bike was struck on its left side. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' providing no detail on the exact driver error, but the narrative centers the violence of the impact and the vulnerability of the e-bike rider. Helmet use is noted only to state 'No helmet.' The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when a heavy vehicle meets a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777923, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A driver hit a 47-year-old woman as she crossed Quentin Road with the signal. Her back was crushed. She lay conscious on the pavement while the traffic light blinked above, red then green. The street offered no protection. The car did not yield.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old woman was crossing at the intersection of Quentin Road and West 6th Street in Brooklyn when a vehicle struck her. The report states she was 'crossing with the signal.' The impact crushed her back, leaving her conscious but injured on the pavement as the traffic light cycled overhead. The police report does not list any contributing factors from the driver, but the narrative makes clear the driver failed to yield to a pedestrian who had the right of way. There is no mention of any pedestrian error or unsafe behavior; the victim was following the signal at the time of the crash. The incident underscores the persistent danger faced by people walking in city crosswalks, even when obeying traffic signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777168, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A box truck rolled west on 60th Street. A 30-year-old man lay broken in its wake, head shattered, life ended. No skid marks. No damage to the truck. Only silence and the weight of steel on flesh.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling westbound on 60th Street near 4th Avenue in Brooklyn struck and killed a 30-year-old man. The pedestrian was found in the roadway with fatal head trauma and crush injuries. The report notes, 'No skid marks. No damage to the truck.' The police narrative describes the aftermath: 'Only silence where a life had been.' The vehicle, a 2020 INTL-TRUCK/BUS registered in Indiana, showed no visible damage. The driver was licensed in Pennsylvania. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. The police report does not cite any pedestrian actions as contributing to the crash. The absence of skid marks and damage underscores the brutal efficiency of the impact. The systemic danger remains: a human body, no match for a truck rolling through city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771639, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 28-year-old man crashed his motorcycle into a car’s left side near 65th Street and 15th Avenue. Blood pooled from his hip and leg. He remained conscious as the engine cooled. The street fell silent, holding the weight of impact.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old man was riding his motorcycle eastbound near 65th Street and 15th Avenue in Brooklyn when he collided with the left side doors of a car. The report states the motorcyclist suffered severe bleeding from his hip and leg but remained conscious at the scene. The narrative describes, 'Blood poured from his hip and leg. He stayed awake. The engine cooled. The street held its breath.' The point of impact and vehicle damage were both recorded as the car’s left side doors. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' and does not cite any specific driver errors. The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but no victim behavior is listed as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the violence of impact and the vulnerability of those outside cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747489, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man crossed 19th Avenue with the light. A Honda hit him. His leg tore open. Blood pooled on the street. He stayed conscious, pain sharp and bright. The car showed no mark. The street bore the wound.

According to the police report, a man was crossing 19th Avenue at the intersection, moving with the signal, when a Honda struck him. The impact tore open his leg, causing severe bleeding. The report states the pedestrian remained conscious at the scene. The police narrative notes, 'A Honda hit him. His leg tore open. Blood spread on the street. He stayed awake. The car bore no mark.' The vehicle, a Honda car or SUV, showed no visible damage. The report does not list any contributing factors for the driver, but it explicitly states the pedestrian was 'crossing with signal.' The collision left the pedestrian with significant injuries to his lower leg and foot. The focus remains on the driver’s actions and the systemic danger present at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736270, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Jeep swung into a U-turn on Bay 25 Street. A woman stepped from behind a parked car. The bumper smashed her face. Blood pooled on the asphalt. She stayed conscious, her face torn, eyes open.

According to the police report, a Jeep SUV made a U-turn on Bay 25 Street near Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn. As the vehicle swung around, a 31-year-old woman emerged from behind a parked car. The Jeep’s right front bumper struck her in the face, causing severe lacerations. The report describes blood pooling on the asphalt and notes the woman remained conscious, her face torn and eyes open. The crash occurred at 19:30. The police report lists the Jeep’s pre-crash action as 'Making U Turn.' No driver errors are explicitly cited in the report’s contributing factors field. The victim’s action—'Emerging from in Front of/Behind Parked Vehicle'—is noted in the data but not listed as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the Jeep’s maneuver and the resulting impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732943, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A woman riding rear on a bike was thrown to the pavement when an e-bike struck. Her head hit the street. She lay unconscious, lifeless under the city’s lights. Sirens came too late. Driver inattention shadowed the crash.

A deadly collision unfolded at the corner of 7th Avenue and 68th Street when an e-bike hit a bike, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 23:06. A 48-year-old woman, riding as a rear passenger, was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries after striking the pavement. The police report states she was 'unconscious' and 'lifeless beneath the streetlights.' The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, highlighting a failure by the e-bike operator to remain alert. No helmet was worn by the victim, but this detail is mentioned only after the driver error. The report makes clear that the crash’s deadly outcome stemmed from the e-bike driver’s lack of attention, not the actions of the passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4732852, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

An unlicensed motorcyclist struck an 82-year-old man crossing 5th Avenue at 60th Street. The impact broke the man’s skull. He died on the sunlit pavement, another life ended by reckless operation on city streets.

According to the police report, an 82-year-old pedestrian was killed at the corner of 5th Avenue and 60th Street in Brooklyn. The man was crossing the street when a northbound motorcycle, operated by an unlicensed rider, struck him head-on. The report states the impact was to the 'center front end' of the motorcycle, resulting in fatal head injuries to the pedestrian. The police report specifically notes the driver's license status as 'unlicensed,' highlighting a critical driver error. The narrative confirms the rider 'hit him square,' and the man died at the scene. While the report mentions the pedestrian was 'crossing without a signal,' it does not list this as a contributing factor, instead marking both contributing factors as 'unspecified.' The focus remains on the unlicensed operation of the motorcycle and the lethal consequences for a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729773, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Jeep slammed into a Honda’s rear on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. The 81-year-old Honda driver died at the wheel, neck broken. No skid marks. The crash came sudden, hard, final. Following too closely left no room for mercy.

According to the police report, a 2024 Jeep struck the rear of a 2000 Honda traveling westbound on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway at 12:05 a.m. The Honda’s 81-year-old driver, belted in, died at the scene with a broken neck. The report notes, 'No skid marks. No second chances.' The primary contributing factor cited is 'Following Too Closely,' indicating the Jeep driver failed to maintain a safe distance. The data does not list any contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior. The impact was to the Honda’s right rear bumper, with the Jeep’s right front bumper taking the hit. The report’s language and evidence focus on the Jeep driver’s failure to keep distance, a systemic danger on high-speed expressways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709835, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Steel met bone on 86th Street. An SUV barreled north, disregarding traffic control. A 68-year-old man pedaled west. Metal crashed into flesh. His head hit pavement. Blood pooled. The bike crumpled. He stayed conscious, battered and bleeding.

According to the police report, a 68-year-old man was riding his bike westbound on 86th Street when a northbound SUV collided with him. The report states the SUV driver disregarded traffic control, directly contributing to the crash. The cyclist suffered severe head lacerations and remained conscious at the scene. The narrative details, 'Metal struck flesh. His head hit hard. Blood pooled. The bike folded at the doors. The bumper cracked.' The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors, both attributed to driver error. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the clear failures by the SUV driver. The crash unfolded near Council District 47, underscoring the persistent danger vulnerable road users face from drivers who ignore basic rules.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709485, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Dodge truck turned left on Bay Ridge Avenue. The driver, distracted, struck a 52-year-old woman head-on. She died beneath the streetlight. The crash left blood on the asphalt and silence in the street.

According to the police report, a Dodge truck making a left turn on Bay Ridge Avenue near 13th Avenue in Brooklyn struck a 52-year-old woman standing in the roadway. The impact was direct, hitting her with the center front end of the vehicle. The woman suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The driver, licensed in New York, was operating a 2019 Dodge truck and was the sole occupant. The police narrative states, 'The driver was distracted.' No contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s actions are cited in the report. The fatal collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695644, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14