No More Bodies in the Road: Make Safety the Law, Not the Exception

A bus lunged from its parking spot on Fulton. Metal struck flesh. A 47-year-old woman on an e-scooter flew, body torn, blood pooling beneath the streetlamp. Shock and lacerations marked the aftermath. Driver inattention shaped the night’s violence.

According to the police report, a bus moved from its parked position near 1922 Fulton Street in Brooklyn at 22:10. An e-scooter, operated by a 47-year-old woman, was making a left turn when the collision occurred. The report states, 'A bus lunged from its parking spot. The e-scooter turned left. Metal struck flesh.' The woman was ejected from her scooter, sustaining severe lacerations and shock, with injuries to her entire body. The police report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The bus's center front end struck the left side doors of the e-scooter. The victim was unlicensed and unshielded, but the report does not cite these as contributing factors. The impact left her torn and shaking beneath a streetlamp, underscoring the consequences of driver inattention in a city street environment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785969, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Metal groaned on Nostrand Avenue. Two cars trapped, one stacked atop the other. A bus driver, a woman, a girl—hurt but alive. Emergency crews worked fast. The street bore the scars. The cause stayed hidden in the wreckage.

NY Daily News reported on December 18, 2024, that a multi-vehicle crash at Nostrand Ave. and Park Ave. in Brooklyn left three people injured. The article states, 'Three people were injured, including an MTA bus driver and a young girl, in a collision that pinned two cars between a box truck and a city bus.' Footage showed two vehicles sandwiched between the bus and truck, with one car stacked atop another. The injured included a 59-year-old MTA driver, a 33-year-old woman, and a 9-year-old girl. All were hospitalized in stable condition. The cause of the crash was not determined at the time of reporting. The incident highlights the risks at busy intersections and the dangers posed by large vehicles in dense urban traffic.

• Cars Crushed Between Bus And Truck, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-18

A 76-year-old man fell hard on Broadway, his head split open by an eastbound e-bike. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The rider kept moving. Confusion ruled the intersection. The old man stayed down, silent in the chaos.

A 76-year-old pedestrian was struck and severely injured by an eastbound e-bike at Broadway and Mac Dougal Street in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The report describes the scene: 'Head split, blood on the asphalt. He stayed down. The rider did not.' The collision left the man with severe lacerations to his head, and he remained conscious but injured at the intersection. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor, explicitly noting confusion at the intersection. The e-bike was traveling straight ahead and struck the pedestrian with its center front end. No additional driver errors or victim behaviors are cited in the report. The incident underscores the persistent dangers faced by pedestrians at busy Brooklyn intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776052, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A driver struck three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, hit a vehicle with a pregnant woman, then crashed into an empty car. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her at the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist reported on November 27, 2024, that a New York City Housing Authority employee was arrested after a chaotic crash in Brooklyn. According to police, the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," then "drove away, dragging the person several feet and hitting another car with a pregnant woman inside." She struck a third, empty car before New York City Sheriffs arrested her nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but no serious injuries were reported. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights the dangers of hit-and-run behavior and the risks faced by vulnerable road users at busy intersections.

• Three-Car Brooklyn Crash Sparks Arrest, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

A motorcycle tore into a turning sedan on Eastern Parkway. Metal twisted. The rider, helmeted, flew and bled on the asphalt. The car’s side caved. One man conscious, broken, lay in the street. The night went silent.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling north on Eastern Parkway near Herkimer Street collided with the right side of a sedan that was making a left turn. The report states the motorcycle was moving at an 'Unsafe Speed,' which is cited as the primary contributing factor. The impact crushed the sedan’s right doors and sent the motorcycle’s front end into ruin. The motorcycle rider, a 39-year-old man, was ejected from his bike, suffering severe lacerations across his entire body. He was found conscious on the roadway, helmeted and bleeding. The sedan driver’s actions are not listed as contributing factors in the report. The crash unfolded at 8:00 p.m., leaving the street still and marked by violence. Systemic danger persists where speed and turning vehicles meet.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773077, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A parked sedan lunged from the curb on Myrtle Avenue. Its front quarter caught a 32-year-old cyclist. Flesh tore. Blood spilled. The man flew, conscious, his arm mangled. The bike stood untouched. The street fell silent. Metal met bone.

A 32-year-old man riding a bike was struck by a parked sedan pulling out near 449 Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn at 2:00 p.m., according to the police report. The report states the collision occurred when the sedan’s left front quarter panel hit the cyclist, resulting in a severe arm injury described as an amputation. The cyclist was ejected from his bike but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors, both attributed to the sedan driver’s actions. The bike itself was left undamaged. No contributing factors were attributed to the cyclist. The crash underscores the persistent danger posed by vehicles reentering traffic without regard for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773340, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Metal screamed near 5th Avenue. A motorcycle clipped a sedan pulling into a spot. A woman, helmeted, crushed her leg. Northbound traffic, one slowed, one did not. The pavement held the silence. Brooklyn’s streets demand attention.

A collision unfolded near 5th Avenue and 39th Street in Brooklyn at 17:40, involving a motorcycle and a sedan, according to the police report. The report states that a motorcycle 'clipped a sedan pulling into a spot.' The impact left a 52-year-old woman, riding as a rear passenger on the motorcycle, with crush injuries to her leg. She was helmeted and remained conscious after the crash. Both vehicles were traveling northbound; the sedan was entering a parked position while the motorcycle was passing. The police report cites 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor. This driver error—failing to maintain adequate distance—directly preceded the collision and the resulting injury. The report does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the persistent danger faced by vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770876, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 64-year-old man on a bike was struck and crushed by an SUV on Vanderbilt Avenue. The driver fell asleep. The cyclist’s head hit hard. He lay unconscious, his bicycle shattered in the gutter. The street fell silent, danger unmasked.

A 64-year-old male bicyclist suffered severe head injuries and was rendered unconscious after being struck by a Station Wagon/SUV on Vanderbilt Avenue near Greene Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'One driver asleep. His head struck. He lay unconscious. The bicycle lay broken in the gutter.' The report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver lost control due to fatigue. The crash involved two SUVs, with the Honda SUV moving straight ahead when it struck the cyclist. The police report details the cyclist was ejected and suffered crush injuries. No evidence in the report points to any cyclist error; the only cited cause is the driver’s failure to remain alert. The narrative underscores the systemic danger posed by inattentive or impaired drivers behind the wheel of large vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768220, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A moped slammed into a stopped SUV on Broadway. The unlicensed rider, helmetless, flew headfirst onto cold pavement. Blood pooled. He lay ejected, incoherent, skull broken, night air biting. The street bore witness to another brutal impact.

According to the police report, a moped traveling north on Broadway struck the rear of a stopped SUV. The rider, a 29-year-old man, was unlicensed and not wearing a helmet. The report states he was 'ejected' and found 'incoherent' with severe head bleeding, his skull broken on the pavement. The crash occurred at 1:30 a.m. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors for the moped rider. The SUV was stopped in traffic at the time of impact. The police narrative describes the aftermath in stark terms: 'Blood pooled. He lay ejected, incoherent, the night cold against his broken skull.' The data highlights driver inattention and unsafe following distance as key factors in this violent collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762921, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man, 49, crossed Bedford at Lafayette before dawn. A northbound car hit him head-on. His head struck hard. He died there, beneath cold streetlights. No name, no reason. Just silence and broken glass in the dark.

A 49-year-old man was killed at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 3:07 a.m., when a northbound car struck the pedestrian head-on as he crossed the intersection. The report states the victim suffered a fatal head injury and died at the scene. The narrative describes, 'A man, 49, crossing alone before dawn. A northbound car crushed him head-on. His head struck. He died there, beneath cold streetlights.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian, offering no further detail on the cause. The vehicle's point of impact was the center front end, consistent with a direct collision. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the lethal impact of the vehicle and the unresolved danger at this Brooklyn intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762323, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man on an e-scooter crashed into a stopped bus on Broadway. His leg tore open. Blood pooled on the street. The bus stood still. The scooter shattered. Night pressed in around the wreckage.

A 22-year-old man riding an e-scooter collided with a stopped bus near 954 Broadway in Brooklyn at 10 p.m., according to the police report. The report states the bus was 'stopped in traffic' and did not move at the time of impact. The e-scooter, traveling straight ahead, struck the bus's left front quarter panel. The rider suffered severe lacerations to his leg, with blood pooling on the street. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor in the crash. The narrative notes the e-scooter rider was helmetless, but only after documenting the driver error. The bus sustained damage to its left front quarter panel, while the scooter crumpled on impact. No injuries to bus occupants were reported. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of inattention and distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757654, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A young man on a ZHILONG e-scooter was hurled mid-turn at Lafayette and Carlton. His face split open, blood pooled on the street. Disoriented, he spoke in fragments. The city’s traffic pressed on, indifferent to the violence.

A 24-year-old man suffered severe facial injuries after being thrown from his ZHILONG e-scooter while making a left turn at the corner of Lafayette Avenue and Carlton Avenue in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 13:14. The report describes the rider as 'incoherent,' with 'severe bleeding' and no helmet. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The narrative states the man was 'thrown from his ZHILONG e-scooter mid-turn,' resulting in his 'face split open' and 'blood on the pavement.' No other vehicles were involved. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the key error leading to the crash. The absence of safety equipment is noted only after the driver’s inattention. The street remained active as the injured rider struggled to speak, underscoring the relentless pace of city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757306, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Chevy SUV tore through Myrtle Avenue, its right front bumper crushing a 63-year-old man in the crosswalk. Blood pooled on the pavement. The driver never stopped. The man died in the intersection, another life ended by driver inattention.

According to the police report, a Chevy SUV traveling east on Myrtle Avenue near Broadway struck a 63-year-old man at the intersection. The impact came from the vehicle’s right front bumper, crushing the man’s arm and causing fatal injuries. The report states the driver did not stop after the collision. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal, as noted in the report, but the primary error listed is the driver’s failure to pay attention. The man died at the scene, his blood left on the pavement. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction and the systemic dangers faced by people crossing New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751938, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council Member Chi Ossé joined activists at Nostrand Avenue station. They blasted Governor Hochul’s pause on congestion pricing. The delay halts elevator upgrades, trapping seniors, parents, and disabled riders. The street outside roars with traffic. The subway stays out of reach.

On July 11, 2024, Council Member Chi Ossé (District 36) stood with Riders Alliance and other advocates outside the Nostrand Avenue subway station. They protested Governor Kathy Hochul’s June 5 decision to suspend congestion pricing, a move that froze $16.5 billion in MTA upgrades, including elevators for Bed-Stuy’s busy station. The event, covered by brooklynpaper.com, highlighted the urgent need for accessibility: 'We want our elevators, we want our service, and we want it now,' said State Sen. Jabari Brisport. Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest called the delay a denial of basic rights. Ossé called Hochul’s move 'an attack on our most vulnerable constituents.' Only a quarter of city stations are wheelchair-accessible. The hold traps thousands—seniors, parents, disabled riders—forcing them to risk dangerous streets or skip transit altogether.

• Activists rail against Hochul’s congestion pricing delay, call for accessibility upgrades to Bed-Stuy subway station, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-07-11

State senators debate cutting the $15 congestion toll. Brad Hoylman-Sigal backs a lower fee if safety and transit gains hold. Liz Krueger wants $1 billion for the MTA. Jabari Brisport slams the rushed process. Trump vows to kill the tolls.

On July 2, 2024, state lawmakers, including Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (District 47), discussed reducing the $15 base congestion pricing fee. The debate, reported by Gothamist, centers on whether a lower toll could unfreeze the program while still funding the MTA. Hoylman-Sigal said, "Nobody's wedded to $15. We are wedded to the improvements that congestion pricing will provide for mass transit or safety on our streets for cleaner air." Sen. Liz Krueger is open to a new fee if it raises $1 billion yearly. Sen. Jabari Brisport criticized the lack of study and feedback in the process, calling it "irresponsible." Any change needs legislative, MTA, and federal approval. Trump has promised to end congestion pricing if elected. No formal safety analysis was provided for vulnerable road users.

• NY lawmakers weigh lower congestion pricing fee – but Trump could kill tolls if elected, gothamist.com, Published 2024-07-02

A Buick SUV slammed into a 37-year-old man crossing Fulton Street in Brooklyn. The front end struck his head. Blood pooled on the pavement. The driver, holding only a learner’s permit, continued west. The man lay conscious, wounded, under city lights.

According to the police report, a Buick SUV traveling west near 2440 Fulton Street in Brooklyn struck a 37-year-old man who was crossing the roadway outside a crosswalk just after midnight. The report states the vehicle's center front end hit the pedestrian's head, causing severe lacerations and leaving him bleeding but conscious on the pavement. The driver of the SUV held only a learner’s permit at the time of the crash, as documented in the police report. The report does not specify any additional driver errors or contributing factors beyond the driver’s license status. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk, but the police report does not list these as contributing factors—only as the location and action. The collision underscores the dangers faced by pedestrians on city streets, especially when drivers lack full licensure.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736534, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man on a Fly e-bike crashed into a stopped SUV on Chauncey Street. He flew from the saddle, pelvis shattered, awake on the asphalt. The report cites following too closely and inexperience. No helmet. No license. The street stayed silent.

According to the police report, a 56-year-old man operating a Fly e-bike eastbound on Chauncey Street near 155th in Brooklyn struck the rear of a stationary SUV at 10:10 a.m. The e-bike rider, unlicensed and without a helmet, was ejected from his vehicle and suffered severe crush injuries to his pelvis. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors in the crash. The SUV, driven by a licensed woman, was stopped in traffic when the collision occurred. The e-bike's center front end crumpled on impact with the SUV's right rear bumper. The police narrative describes the rider as conscious but immobilized on the asphalt, staring at the sky. The report makes no mention of any error by the SUV driver, focusing instead on the e-bike operator's actions and lack of protective equipment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735465, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Governor Hochul froze New York’s congestion pricing days before launch. Lawmakers and advocates called her move illegal. The MTA faces lost funds, stalled upgrades, and mounting frustration. Transit riders and vulnerable road users are left exposed as car traffic surges unchecked.

On June 10, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul abruptly paused New York City’s congestion pricing program, which was set to begin June 30. The 2019 law mandates the state and MTA 'shall' implement congestion pricing, not 'may.' U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres said, 'When the will of the Executive competes with an Act of the Legislature, the law wins. Or should.' MTA board members, caught off guard, warned that without toll revenue, modernization projects—like electric buses and ADA stations—will be deprioritized. State Sen. Jabari Brisport and Riders Alliance noted a surge in public support for the program after Hochul’s decision. Hochul cited safety and community concerns, but advocates say her move robs New Yorkers of a vital tool to fund transit and cut traffic and pollution. The program’s future remains uncertain, with vulnerable road users facing continued risk from unchecked car traffic.

• Hochul’s Bid to Stop Congestion Pricing Might Be Illegal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-10

Governor Hochul halted congestion pricing days before launch. Lawmakers and advocates erupted. The MTA warned of stalled upgrades. Transit riders felt betrayed. State Sen. Jabari Brisport reported a flood of support for tolls. The fight now moves to courts and the streets.

On June 10, 2024, Governor Hochul moved to halt New York City’s congestion pricing program, which was set to begin June 30. The 2019 law’s language—'shall implement tolls'—makes her action legally questionable. The Federal Highway Administration has not finalized the agreement, giving Hochul a bureaucratic opening. State Sen. Jabari Brisport, district 25, spoke at a pro-congestion pricing rally, saying, 'A lot of senators felt the pressure from the phone calls, myself included.' The MTA warned that without toll revenue, modernization and accessibility projects will be delayed. Advocacy groups and transit riders called the pause a betrayal, emphasizing congestion pricing’s role in funding transit and reducing traffic and pollution. The matter’s title: 'Hochul's Bid to Stop Congestion Pricing Might Be Illegal.' The fight for safer, more reliable streets now intensifies.

• Hochul's Bid to Stop Congestion Pricing Might Be Illegal, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-06-10

Angry Brooklynites rallied at Broadway Junction. They blasted Governor Hochul for halting congestion pricing. Signs demanded clean air and fast trains. Council Member Lincoln Restler called it betrayal. Protesters warned: more cars, less transit, and vulnerable riders left behind.

On June 10, 2024, Council Member Lincoln Restler joined a protest in District 33 against Governor Kathy Hochul’s indefinite delay of congestion pricing. The rally, organized by Riders Alliance, gathered outside Broadway Junction. Protesters held signs reading, 'Don’t cancel @ 11th hour' and 'clean air, fast trains. Fund the MTA.' The matter, titled 'Brooklynites fume over congestion pricing delay: Kathy Hochul has betrayed us,' saw Restler declare, 'Kathy Hochul has betrayed us.' He called for more frequent buses, reliable trains, and less car dependence. Demonstrators warned that the delay defunds the MTA, threatens service for those without cars, and puts Black, Brown, and low-income communities at risk. State Sen. Jabari Brisport urged Hochul to reinstate the plan. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Brooklynites fume over congestion pricing delay: ‘Kathy Hochul has betrayed us’, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-06-10