Blood on the Asphalt: Deadly Streets, Empty Promises

A man on a bike tore into a parked SUV. His arm split open. Blood spilled onto Grand Street. The SUV did not move. The cyclist rode too fast. Shock hit him hard. Brooklyn stood still and watched.

A 27-year-old man riding a bike crashed into the side of a parked SUV near 639 Grand Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A 27-year-old man on a bike struck the side of a parked SUV. His arm split open. Blood poured. No helmet. The SUV stood still. The bike moved too fast. Shock took him.' The cyclist suffered a severe arm injury and was in shock. The police listed 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The report also noted 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' The SUV was parked and unoccupied at the time of impact. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as stated in the report, but this was not listed as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653597, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford SUV struck a 25-year-old e-bike rider head-on on Harrison Place. The rider flew from the saddle, hit the pavement, head split open. He lay semiconscious, bleeding, alone in the dark. Traffic control ignored. Streets unforgiving.

A Ford SUV hit a 25-year-old e-bike rider head-on near Harrison Place and Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the SUV disregarded traffic control and struck the cyclist, who was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations. The rider was semiconscious and bleeding at the scene. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause remains the driver's failure to obey traffic signals and improper lane usage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4651884, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two bodies pulled from Newtown Creek. Council Member Gutiérrez demands action. Industrial zones draw crowds but lack lights, signs, transit. Politicians push for safety. Danger stalks dark streets. City must fix deadly gaps before more lives are lost.

On August 4, 2023, Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez (District 34) led a call for increased nightlife safety in industrial areas after two men died near Brooklyn Mirage. The matter, titled 'After two bodies recovered from Newtown Creek, pols petition for more nightlife safety measures in industrial areas,' highlights the lack of lighting, signage, connectivity, and public transportation in the Industrial Business Zone (IBZ). Gutiérrez, joined by U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Assembly Members Maritz Davila and Emily Gallagher, and State Senator Julia Salazar, urged a full investigation and demanded urgent infrastructure upgrades. Gutiérrez said, 'We remain committed to enhancing public safety and ensuring that the nightlife community operates and maintains responsible practices.' The push centers vulnerable road users—pedestrians and nightlife patrons—who face systemic danger in neglected, poorly lit streets.

• After two bodies recovered from Newtown Creek, pols petition for more nightlife safety measures in industrial areas, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-08-04

Brooklyn officials demand equal tolls on all Manhattan crossings. They warn free bridges funnel traffic into certain neighborhoods. Their letter calls for fairness. The MTA stays silent. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide. Streets hang in the balance.

On July 18, 2023, Council Member Shahana Hanif and other Brooklyn officials called for 'equalized tolling on all crossings into Manhattan' as congestion pricing nears. Their letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board states: 'No one community should disproportionately bear the burden of the cars and trucks passing through their neighborhood.' Hanif, along with Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Crystal Hudson, joined borough, state, and federal colleagues in this push. They propose a credit system to balance costs between DOT bridges and MTA tunnels, aiming to protect neighborhoods like the Brooklyn waterfront and the BQE corridor from traffic surges. The MTA declined comment. The Board will soon set final toll rates and rules. The federal government has approved the congestion pricing plan, with tolls for cars expected between $9 and $23. Over 100 exemption requests, including from taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers, are under review.

• Pols call for ‘equalized tolling’ on all crossings into Manhattan under congestion pricing on eve of board deliberations, amny.com, Published 2023-07-18

A sedan slammed into an e-bike on Euclid Avenue near Jamaica. The rider, 39, hit the pavement. Blood pooled on his leg. Metal twisted. The morning air filled with pain and sirens. Unsafe speed left the street scarred.

A sedan collided with an e-bike on Euclid Avenue near Jamaica Avenue. The e-bike rider, a 39-year-old man, suffered severe lacerations to his leg. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The sedan’s left side doors crumpled, and the e-bike’s front end shattered. The report states, 'A sedan tore into an e-bike at speed. The rider, 39, hit the pavement hard. Blood soaked his leg.' No helmet or signaling issues are listed as contributing factors. The data highlights unsafe speed as the key driver error. The crash left the vulnerable rider injured and the street marked by violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646913, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A cyclist slammed into the back of a stopped SUV on South 4th Street. He flew headfirst, hit the ground, and bled from the skull. Thirty-three years old. No helmet. Blood pooled on Brooklyn pavement. He was conscious, injured, and alone.

A 33-year-old cyclist was injured after colliding with the rear of a stopped SUV near 163 South 4th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist 'hit the back of a stopped SUV. No helmet. He flew headfirst, hit the ground. Blood pooled on the pavement. Conscious, bleeding from the skull.' The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The cyclist was ejected from his bike and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. The SUV was stopped in traffic at the time of impact. The absence of a helmet is noted in the report, but driver errors are cited as primary causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645632, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A concrete mixer hit a cyclist at Morgan Avenue and Harrison Place. Steel met flesh. The rider fell. Blood pooled at his leg. His helmet cracked. He stayed conscious. The truck driver was inattentive. The cyclist suffered severe leg wounds.

A concrete mixer traveling east collided with a northbound cyclist at the corner of Morgan Avenue and Harrison Place in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A concrete mixer moved east. A cyclist rode north. Steel struck flesh. He hit the pavement hard. Blood pooled at his leg. His helmet cracked. He stayed awake. He did not scream.' The cyclist, a 28-year-old man, suffered severe lacerations to his lower leg and remained conscious at the scene. Police cited 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for the truck driver. The cyclist was wearing a helmet, which cracked in the crash. No injuries were reported for the truck driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4642289, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man rode west on Conselyea. He struck something head-on. Thrown from his bike, he hit the street. His skull broke. His organs tore. The street stayed quiet. He did not get up.

A 39-year-old man riding a bike west on Conselyea Street near Graham Avenue was killed in a violent crash. According to the police report, he struck something head-on and was thrown from his bike. The report states, 'Skull broken. Organs torn.' The cyclist was unlicensed and wore no helmet. The police list the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or people were reported injured. The crash left the street silent, another life lost to impact and force.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4637331, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man stepped from a parked car. A bus passed too close. Metal ripped his arm. Blood spilled on De Kalb Avenue. The bus did not stop. The man stayed behind, awake, bleeding, his arm torn open.

A 31-year-old man exited a parked car on De Kalb Avenue. As he stepped down, a westbound bus passed too close. According to the police report, 'Passing Too Closely' was the contributing factor. The bus struck the man’s arm, causing severe lacerations and heavy bleeding. The bus did not stop. The man remained conscious at the scene. No injuries were reported for the bus driver or other vehicle occupants. The police report lists no errors by the victim. The crash highlights the danger when large vehicles fail to give space to people outside cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4626484, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck barreled down Varick Avenue. A motorcycle smashed its side. The rider, helmeted, flew through air. Blood spilled on the street. The truck’s doors twisted. Sirens cut the silence. Signals ignored. Speed unchecked. One man left bleeding.

A box truck and a motorcycle collided on Varick Avenue. The motorcycle hit the truck’s right side. According to the police report, the 33-year-old motorcyclist was ejected and suffered a bleeding head injury. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The truck’s right doors were crushed. The motorcyclist wore a helmet, as noted in the data, but the crash’s cause centered on ignored traffic signals. No pedestrians were involved. The system failed to protect the vulnerable. The street became a scene of blood and twisted metal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4626317, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan hit a westbound e-bike head-on in Brooklyn. The 27-year-old rider flew off, bleeding from the face. He lay conscious on the street. The car’s rear panel crumpled. Driver inattention and failure to yield marked the crash.

A sedan traveling south on Roebling Street struck a westbound e-bike head-on near South 4th Street in Brooklyn. The 27-year-old e-bike rider was ejected and suffered severe facial bleeding, but remained conscious on the pavement. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' were listed as contributing factors. The sedan’s left rear quarter panel was damaged. The report notes the e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, but this was not listed as a cause. No injuries were reported for the sedan’s occupants. The crash underscores the danger posed by driver distraction and failure to yield on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4624364, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A car sped down Grove Street at dusk. The driver passed too close. The front end struck a 15-year-old boy. His leg split open. Blood pooled. The driver fled. The boy stayed awake, pain sharp and raw.

A 15-year-old boy walking on Grove Street was struck by a car passing too closely. According to the police report, 'the front slammed into a 15-year-old boy. His leg split open. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He stayed awake. The driver never stopped.' The report lists 'Passing Too Closely' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The boy suffered severe lacerations to his lower leg and foot but remained conscious at the scene. The driver did not remain after the crash. No mention of helmet or signaling was made in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4616169, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A diesel truck turned right on Morgan Avenue. Its front quarter struck a 56-year-old cyclist. The man was thrown from his bike. He died under the streetlight. Police cite driver inattention and inexperience. The street stayed silent after.

A 56-year-old man riding a bike south on Morgan Avenue near Johnson Avenue was killed when a diesel truck turned right and its front quarter struck him. According to the police report, 'A 56-year-old man pedaled south. A diesel truck turned right. Its front quarter crushed his head. He wore no helmet. He was thrown from the bike. He died there, alone, under the streetlight.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The cyclist was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. Helmet use is noted only after the driver errors. The crash left one man dead and a city street marked by loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4611702, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

City Hall floats three-lane BQE. Electeds push back. Two lanes, they say, or fewer. Advocates want transit, not more highway. Officials call City Hall’s claims false. The fight is sharp. Vulnerable road users watch as cars and trucks rule the debate.

On March 3, 2023, City Hall reignited debate over the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) lane count. Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi claimed some locals want three lanes each way, but 17 elected officials, including State Sen. Julia Salazar, Sen. Andrew Gounardes, Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, and Council Member Lincoln Restler, publicly rejected the idea. Salazar said, 'no to three lanes. Two lanes at most.' Gounardes confirmed, 'all support a two-lane highway.' Gallagher wrote, '2 lanes if any.' Restler called City Hall’s statements 'plainly inaccurate.' The Department of Transportation delayed environmental review to study both options. Advocates and officials urge investment in mass transit, not highway expansion. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as the city weighs more lanes for cars and trucks.

• City Hall: We Hear that People Want to Keep Three-Lane BQE (Really?!), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-03

A flatbed truck turned left on Boerum Street. The front end struck a 70-year-old woman working in the road. Her arm was crushed. Blood soaked her sleeve. She stood in shock. The truck’s engine idled. The street stayed silent.

A 70-year-old woman was working in the roadway on Boerum Street when a flatbed truck turned left and struck her with its front end. According to the police report, 'the front end crushed her arm. She stood in shock, blood rising through her sleeve, the engine still warm behind her.' The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors by the driver. The woman suffered crush injuries to her upper arm and shoulder. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The crash highlights the danger posed by large vehicles moving at unsafe speeds near people working in the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4607999, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan hit a southbound motorcycle on Bushwick Avenue. The rider, helmeted, was thrown and left unconscious, bleeding from the head. The car’s front left crumpled. Sirens faded. The street fell silent. Impact and error left scars behind.

A sedan struck a southbound motorcycle on Bushwick Avenue near Jefferson Avenue in Brooklyn. The 43-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected, left unconscious, and suffered severe head lacerations. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' were listed as contributing factors. The sedan’s front left bumper crumpled from the impact. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. No injuries were specified for the sedan’s occupants. The crash underscores the danger when drivers disregard traffic controls and fail to yield, exposing vulnerable road users to grave harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4610454, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck swung wide on Meserole. Steel met steel. The parked sedan crumpled. The driver, trapped and conscious, suffered neck injuries. The truck rolled on. The street stayed silent. Flesh paid for a turn gone wrong.

A box truck making a right turn on Meserole Street in Brooklyn struck a parked sedan. According to the police report, the truck 'turned wrong.' The sedan's driver, a 42-year-old man, was conscious but suffered crush injuries to his neck. The crash left the sedan's front end mangled. The truck showed no damage and continued on. Police list 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor. No errors are attributed to the sedan driver. Other occupants in the vehicles were listed but did not report injuries. The crash highlights the danger when large vehicles turn without care.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4605615, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Eighteen Brooklyn officials demand state DOT address BQE’s full deadly stretch. They reject piecemeal fixes. They call out decades of harm. The state’s refusal leaves neighborhoods exposed. The city’s hands are tied. The highway’s danger remains. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

On February 10, 2023, eighteen Brooklyn lawmakers issued a joint letter demanding New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) participate in comprehensive planning for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The statement, prompted by a Streetsblog report, reads: "We ask that the NYS DOT remember the daily harms caused by the BQE in its current state—not just the crumbling cantilever section—and join us at the table in search of a solution." The group includes Reps. Nydia Velázquez, Dan Goldman, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, state Sens. Jabari Brisport, Julia Salazar, Kristen Gonzalez, Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Members Bobby Carroll, Maritza Davila, Phara Souffrant Forrest, Emily Gallagher, Jo Anne Simon, Marcela Mitaynes, and Council Members Alexa Avilés, Shahana Hanif, Crystal Hudson, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Lincoln Restler. Senator Gounardes called the state’s refusal to join the city’s visioning process “unacceptable and irresponsible.” The lawmakers stress that the BQE’s harms—crashes, pollution, division—stretch from Bay Ridge to Greenpoint. Without state action, only city-owned segments see attention. The city’s efforts are limited. The state’s inaction leaves systemic danger unaddressed.

• Brooklyn Pols Demand the State ‘Come to the Table’ on the BQE, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-10

A 12-year-old girl bled from the neck after a truck hit her on Flushing Avenue. The driver, distracted, drove straight. The truck showed no damage. The child did. She stayed conscious. Steel met flesh. The street bore witness.

A 12-year-old pedestrian was struck and injured by a 2019 Isuzu chassis cab truck on Flushing Avenue. According to the police report, the girl bled from the neck at the intersection but remained conscious. The driver, a 26-year-old man, was traveling straight ahead when the crash occurred. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The truck sustained no visible damage, but the child suffered severe bleeding. No other injuries were reported among the vehicle occupants. The data does not mention any actions by the pedestrian as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the danger posed by distracted driving to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4605132, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Honda sedan struck a 14-year-old boy in a Brooklyn crosswalk. The car’s bumper tore his leg. Blood pooled on Broadway. The driver, distracted, did not stop. The boy stayed awake, bleeding in the cold street.

A 14-year-old boy was hit by a Honda sedan at the corner of Broadway and 282 in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the boy was crossing the intersection when the car’s left front bumper struck his lower leg, causing severe bleeding. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The driver, a 28-year-old woman, was not injured and did not remain at the scene. The boy was conscious after the crash. The police report highlights driver distraction as the primary error. No other contributing factors are listed before the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4600749, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15