Senator Sutton: Absent While Brooklyn Bleeds

Sep 6 - On Flatbush by the Belt Parkway, a 29-year-old motorcyclist went straight when the motorcycle's back end took the hit. He stayed conscious. He suffered severe leg cuts. Police recorded 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor.

A crash on Flatbush Ave at the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn injured a 29-year-old motorcyclist. According to the police report, the motorcycle was "Going Straight Ahead," and the point of impact was the "Center Back End." Police recorded "Other Vehicular" as the contributing factor. The rider suffered severe lacerations to the knee, lower leg, and foot. He remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists a second vehicle but provides no details on that driver or vehicle. Damage to the motorcycle was recorded at the center back end. The record names the rider as the driver. No other injuries are documented.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4841477 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 18 - A sedan driver turned right and hit a northbound motorized scooter on Brigham Street. The 27‑year‑old rider was ejected with a bleeding head wound and was conscious. Police cited improper passing or lane use.

The driver of a sedan made a right turn and hit a northbound motorized scooter near 2328 Brigham St in Brooklyn. The scooter overturned and the 27-year-old male rider was ejected. He suffered a head injury with severe bleeding and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Passing or Lane Usage Improper." Police recorded improper passing or lane use by the driver. The sedan showed right-front bumper damage and the scooter was listed as overturned. No pedestrians were reported injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836380 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 5 - A driver in a sedan overturned on Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. The 22-year-old driver was ejected and killed. Three male passengers were injured; one passenger was also ejected. Police recorded unsafe speed and driver inattention.

A driver in a sedan was traveling west on the Belt Parkway when the vehicle overturned. The 22-year-old driver was ejected and killed. Three male passengers were injured; police said one passenger was also ejected. According to the police report, the crash killed the 22-year-old driver and injured three male passengers, ages 18, 20, and 22. Police list 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The report notes that some occupants wore no safety equipment, mentioned after the cited driver errors. The car was registered in New Jersey and suffered an overturn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833034 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 12 - A driver turned right on Avenue T and struck a front-seat passenger. She suffered head and crush injuries. Police logged damage to the car’s right side. The injured woman was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness. No driver error was listed.

A driver in a 2021 Nissan sedan made a right turn on Avenue T in Brooklyn and struck the front passenger, a 39-year-old woman, who suffered head and crush injuries. “According to the police report …” the woman suffered head and crush injuries and the vehicle’s right side doors were damaged. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. The injured passenger was conscious after the crash and was wearing a lap belt and harness, per the police record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827533 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 11 - A sedan hit a three-year-old crossing East 18th. The child suffered crush injuries. Police cite driver inattention. The street saw pain and chaos. Metal met flesh. The city failed to shield its smallest walker.

A sedan traveling south on East 18th Street in Brooklyn struck a three-year-old pedestrian who was crossing outside a crosswalk. The child sustained crush injuries to the entire body and was reported conscious at the scene. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as the contributing factor. The driver and two other occupants were not seriously hurt. The crash underscores the danger faced by pedestrians, especially children, when drivers lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827091 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 9 - A moped struck a 90-year-old man crossing in Sheepshead Bay. The rider looked away, hit the man, paused, then fled. The victim lay motionless. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital. He died from his injuries.

ABC7 reported on July 9, 2025, that Zhuo Xie, 90, was killed crossing East 14th Street and Avenue U in Brooklyn. The article states, "a man riding a blue moped slammed into Xie and both men fell to the ground." Surveillance video showed the moped rider looking left, not ahead, before impact. The driver checked on Xie, then left the scene. Police said the moped had a green light, but the rider's inattention and failure to remain highlight systemic dangers for pedestrians. The incident underscores risks at intersections and the consequences of hit-and-run crashes.

• Moped Hits Elderly Pedestrian, Flees Scene, ABC7, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 8 - A moped hit a 90-year-old man at Avenue U and E 14 St. The impact left him unconscious, bleeding from the head. Brooklyn pavement ran red. No driver errors listed. The city failed to protect him.

A 90-year-old pedestrian suffered a head injury and severe bleeding after a moped struck him at Avenue U and E 14 St in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the man was found unconscious at the intersection. The moped’s center front end took the impact. No specific driver errors were listed in the report; contributing factors are marked as 'Unspecified.' The crash highlights the vulnerability of pedestrians at city intersections, especially the elderly. No helmet or signal use was noted as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826233 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 7 - A sedan struck and killed a 70-year-old man crossing Avenue I. Police cite driver inattention. The crash left the pedestrian dead at the scene. Impact hit the head. System failed to protect him.

A 70-year-old man was killed while crossing Avenue I at East 5th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a sedan traveling east struck the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The driver, a 74-year-old man, was licensed and uninjured. No other errors or factors were cited in the report. The system allowed distraction to end a life.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825939 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 23 - A sedan struck a moped on Avenue N. A 17-year-old moped driver died. His 14-year-old passenger was ejected and injured. Police cite improper lane usage. Streets remain unforgiving.

A sedan collided with a moped at Avenue N and East 8th Street in Brooklyn. The crash killed a 17-year-old moped driver and left his 14-year-old passenger ejected and injured. According to the police report, the contributing factor was 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' The sedan was making a left turn. The moped driver was unlicensed and wore no safety equipment, but the police report lists improper lane usage as the driver error. The crash shows the lethal risk faced by young riders on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822639 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 15 - Metal tore metal on Coney Island Avenue. Three vehicles smashed. Passengers ejected, faces cut, bodies broken. Alcohol played its part. Sirens cut the night. Blood on the street. The city kept moving. The wounded waited for help.

A violent crash erupted at Coney Island Avenue and Avenue U in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a sedan, a pick-up truck, and several SUVs collided. Alcohol involvement was listed as a contributing factor. Fourteen people were involved. At least seven were injured, including passengers who suffered severe lacerations, fractures, and one who was ejected and left unconscious. Drivers and passengers reported pain, bleeding, and broken bones. The report states, 'Alcohol Involvement' as a cause. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor. The impact left bodies battered and the street scarred. The crash shows again how alcohol and speed turn steel into shrapnel, and people into casualties.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820416 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 15 - A black Suburban sped north on Coney Island Avenue. It struck a Volvo, shoving it into a police car. Two officers broke bones. A passenger flew from the Suburban. Blood pooled on the street. Sirens wailed. The driver now faces charges.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-15), a 24-year-old man drove a Chevrolet Suburban while intoxicated on Coney Island Avenue. He crashed into a Volvo at Avenue U, triggering a chain-reaction that sent the Volvo into a marked NYPD car. The article states, "One police officer suffered a broken pelvis and arm, as well as head trauma, while another suffered a broken hip." A passenger in the Suburban was ejected and critically injured. The driver, Diyorjon Sobirjonov, was charged with DWI, reckless endangerment, and related offenses after refusing a blood-alcohol test. The incident highlights the ongoing risk posed by impaired driving and the vulnerability of passengers and officers in multi-vehicle collisions.

• Chain-Reaction Crash Injures Cops, Passenger, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-15

Jun 13 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-13

Jun 12 - A motorcycle and sedan crashed on Avenue P. The motorcyclist was ejected and killed. Police cite traffic control disregarded. The sedan driver survived. The street saw violence and loss. Metal twisted. One life ended. The city moves on.

A deadly crash unfolded on Avenue P at East 2nd Street in Brooklyn. A motorcycle, making a left turn, collided with a sedan going straight. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. The 42-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected and killed, suffering head and crush injuries. The sedan driver, a 17-year-old male, was uninjured. The motorcycle operator was unlicensed. No helmet use or signaling was cited as a factor. The report does not specify which driver disregarded traffic control. The crash left one dead and others shaken. The street bears the mark of another violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820105 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 12 - A sedan struck a 14-year-old boy crossing Foster Ave. The teen suffered crush injuries. Police cite driver inattention and inexperience. The street became a danger zone in seconds.

A 14-year-old pedestrian was hit by a sedan while crossing Foster Ave at East 5th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the boy suffered crush injuries to his entire body. The driver, a 22-year-old man, was licensed and headed west. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The crash did not occur at an intersection. The report does not mention any pedestrian error as a cause. The impact left the teen injured and conscious at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820747 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 12 - Senate backs S 4045. Repeat speeders face forced installation of speed assistance tech. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers action. Law targets reckless drivers. Streets may get safer for those outside the car.

Senate bill S 4045, sponsored by Andrew Gounardes and co-sponsored by over two dozen senators, passed committee votes on June 11 and June 12, 2025. The bill, titled 'Relates to requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits,' mandates these devices for drivers who rack up eleven or more points in 24 months, or six speed or red light camera tickets in a year. The measure aims to curb repeat dangerous driving. Senators including Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, and others voted yes. The bill targets drivers with a pattern of violations, seeking to cut risk for pedestrians and cyclists by limiting repeat speeding.

• File S 4045, Open States, Published 2025-06-12

May 25 - A motorcycle slammed into a fire truck on Flatbush Avenue near Avenue U. The rider was ejected and killed. Five others in the fire truck escaped serious harm. Unsafe speed played a role. The street stayed quiet, but the damage was done.

A deadly crash unfolded late at night on Flatbush Avenue at Avenue U in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a motorcycle and a fire apparatus collided. The 30-year-old motorcycle driver was ejected and killed, suffering crush injuries to his entire body. Five occupants in the fire truck, including its driver, were not seriously hurt. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor in the crash. The motorcycle driver was unlicensed. The report notes the use of a helmet by the motorcyclist, but only after citing unsafe speed as a factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The toll: one life lost, a city street marked by violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815725 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - Two sedans crashed at Avenue X. One driver suffered neck and crush injuries. Police cite following too closely. Metal twisted. Streets failed to forgive.

Two sedans collided near 319 Avenue X in Brooklyn. A 32-year-old woman driving a Jeep sedan was injured, suffering neck and crush injuries. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Following Too Closely.' The impact left one driver hurt while others escaped serious injury. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to keep safe distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813759 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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

Apr 17 - An SUV struck hard on Ocean Parkway. The 78-year-old driver bled from his leg. He stayed conscious, alone in the car. No sirens, just blood and silence.

A 2019 Honda SUV hit hard on the left front near 1377 Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. The 78-year-old male driver, alone and belted, suffered severe bleeding from his leg but remained conscious. According to the police report, the impact left the driver injured and the vehicle’s left front bumper damaged. The report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No other people or vehicles were involved. No driver errors are detailed in the data. The scene was quiet, marked only by injury and blood.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806680 - 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