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

A sedan ran the light at Marcus Garvey and Decatur. It struck a motorscooter broadside. The rider, 26, was thrown and killed. Head trauma. No helmet. Blood on the street. Dawn broke over shattered glass and silence.

A deadly crash unfolded at Marcus Garvey Boulevard and Decatur Street in Brooklyn. A sedan struck a 26-year-old motorscooter rider broadside. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was the contributing factor for both vehicles. The rider was ejected and suffered fatal head trauma. The report states, 'Signal ignored. Scooter crushed. Blood pooled as dawn crept over broken glass and silence.' The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause listed was the failure to obey traffic control. The motorscooter was demolished. The crash left one dead and a city street stained with loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4651853, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Night on Bedford Avenue. An SUV’s bumper slams a cyclist. The man flies, arm torn, blood pooling. He lies conscious, hand shattered, pain sharp under streetlights. The driver, distracted, keeps the engine running. Metal and flesh meet. The street remembers.

A 28-year-old cyclist was struck by a northbound SUV on Bedford Avenue at 10:30 p.m. The impact threw him from his bike. He suffered severe bleeding and a shattered hand and arm but remained conscious at the scene. According to the police report, 'the driver was distracted.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The SUV’s left front bumper hit the cyclist, who was ejected. No other contributing factors are noted in the data. The crash left the cyclist injured and bleeding on the pavement, while the SUV showed damage to its left front bumper.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644102, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 26-year-old on a minibike crashed into a bus on Halsey Street. Brakes failed. His head struck hard. Blood pooled. He stayed conscious. The night was tense. The street was silent. Danger lingered at the corner.

A 26-year-old man riding a minibike struck the rear of a bus at the corner of Halsey Street and Throop Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the minibike's brakes were defective. The rider suffered a severe head injury and was bleeding heavily but remained conscious at the scene. The report states, “Brakes failed. His head hit hard. Blood pooled on the pavement.” The only contributing factor listed is 'Brakes Defective.' The report also notes that the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned after the mechanical failure. No injuries were reported for the bus occupants. The crash left the street in a hush, underscoring the peril faced by vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643638, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 15-year-old girl on an e-scooter turned left on Dumont Avenue and struck a parked Jeep. Her head split open. She was partially thrown. Blood pooled on the street. Shock froze her eyes. The city watched, silent.

A 15-year-old girl riding an e-scooter was severely injured on Dumont Avenue near Chester Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she turned left and struck a parked Jeep. The impact split her head open and partially ejected her from the scooter. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The girl was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The Jeep was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4639762, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck drifted off Flushing Avenue and smashed into a parked SUV. The man inside, 38, died on impact. The SUV’s front buckled. The truck stood untouched. Police blamed driver distraction. No one else was hurt.

A fatal crash struck Flushing Avenue near North Oxford Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a box truck veered into a parked SUV. The man inside the SUV, age 38, was killed instantly. The SUV’s front was crushed. The box truck showed no damage. Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other injuries were reported. The report notes the SUV occupant was unbelted, but only after citing distraction as the primary cause. The data lists no errors by the victim. The crash underscores the deadly risk when drivers lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4623158, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorscooter hit a 64-year-old woman as she crossed Nostrand Avenue with the signal. Her face burned. She stayed conscious. The scooter slammed into a stopped Jeep. Driver inattention cut through the morning. Flesh met steel. Pain lingered.

A 64-year-old woman was crossing Nostrand Avenue with the signal when a southbound motorscooter struck her. According to the police report, her face was burned but she remained conscious. The motorscooter then crashed into a stopped Jeep. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The woman suffered severe facial burns. No injuries were reported for the drivers or passengers of the Jeep or motorscooter. The police report makes clear: driver inattention led to this harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4622067, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Yamaha motorcycle hit a turning Ford SUV on Atlantic Avenue. The rider, 24, wore a helmet. He was thrown, crushed, broken under the SUV’s front. Seven in the SUV, including children, were unhurt. The street swallowed another body.

A Yamaha motorcycle slammed into the rear of a Ford SUV making a left turn at Atlantic Avenue and Grand Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the 24-year-old motorcyclist, who wore a helmet, was thrown from his bike and crushed under the SUV’s front, suffering injuries to his entire body. The Ford carried seven occupants, including five children and two adults, none of whom were reported injured. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors for either vehicle. The motorcyclist’s helmet is noted in the data, but the impact proved fatal. The crash shows the deadly force of turning vehicles and the vulnerability of those on two wheels.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4618565, 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

Steel crushed flesh on Vanderbilt Avenue. An Audi SUV hit hard. The driver died, buckled in. His passenger, trapped, survived with crush wounds. Distraction ruled the wheel. The street fell silent. Metal and blood marked the spot.

A 2021 Audi SUV traveling west on Vanderbilt Avenue near Pacific Street crashed front-first. The 70-year-old male driver died at the scene, restrained by a lap belt and harness. His 60-year-old female passenger, also buckled in, suffered crush injuries but survived. According to the police report, 'Distraction at the wheel' was a contributing factor. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The SUV was demolished. The crash left one dead, one injured, and a street marked by silence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4594304, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A GMC SUV turned left on Taylor Street. The driver failed to yield. The right front bumper hit a 59-year-old woman in the crosswalk. She fell, head first. She died in the street. The driver kept going. The danger was clear.

A 59-year-old woman was killed while crossing Taylor Street near Kent Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was in a marked crosswalk when a GMC SUV turned left and struck her with its right front bumper. The report states, 'The driver did not yield.' The woman fell head first and died at the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The driver was making a left turn at the time of the crash. No mention is made of helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of driver error in city crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4585564, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Dodge turned left on Bedford. A cyclist rode straight. Metal struck flesh. The rider’s arm split open. Blood ran down his hand. He stayed upright. The driver was distracted. The street bore witness.

A crash on Bedford Avenue involved a Dodge sedan making a left turn and a man riding a bike straight ahead. The cyclist, age 30, suffered a severe arm injury with heavy bleeding but did not fall or lose consciousness. According to the police report, 'The driver was looking elsewhere.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The sedan’s right rear bumper struck the cyclist. No other serious injuries were reported among the car’s occupants. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, but the primary fault lies with the driver’s inattention, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4585767, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Jeep hits a 79-year-old man crossing Stone Avenue. The right front bumper slams him down. Blood pools on the street. He is conscious, head wounded. The street goes quiet. The driver failed to yield. The man lies injured, the city holds its breath.

A 79-year-old pedestrian was struck by a Jeep sedan on Stone Avenue near Sutter Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the Jeep's right front bumper hit the man as he crossed the street, causing a head injury and severe bleeding. The report states the driver failed to yield the right-of-way. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The data lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor for the driver. No other driver errors or factors are noted. The crash left the elderly man injured, underscoring the danger faced by those on foot in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4581199, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford SUV struck a 48-year-old man crossing Fulton Street. The front end crumpled. The man died on the pavement. Police say the driver had been drinking. Alcohol fueled the crash. The street stayed silent after.

A Ford SUV traveling west on Fulton Street struck a 48-year-old man who was crossing outside a crosswalk. According to the police report, 'A Ford SUV hit a 48-year-old man crossing outside the crosswalk. The front end caved in. His body broke. He died there. The driver, a woman, had been drinking.' The pedestrian suffered fatal injuries to his entire body and died at the scene. The driver, a 29-year-old woman, was injured. The police report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor for both the driver and the crash. The impact was to the center front end of the SUV. No other contributing factors are listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4574563, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A box truck turned left at Flushing and Bedford. The driver failed to yield. A 63-year-old man crossed with the signal. Steel struck flesh. The truck crushed him. He died in the street. The truck showed no damage.

A 63-year-old man was killed at the corner of Flushing Avenue and Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a box truck turned left and struck the pedestrian as he crossed with the signal. The report states, “A box truck turned left. A 63-year-old man walked with the light. The truck struck him. His body crushed beneath steel.” The listed contributing factor is 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The truck’s driver, a 44-year-old man, was licensed and made a left turn when the crash occurred. The pedestrian suffered fatal crush injuries. No damage was reported to the truck. The crash highlights the deadly consequences when drivers fail to yield to people in the crosswalk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4570143, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A cyclist slammed into a parked SUV on Fulton Street. The rider flew off the bike, bleeding from the arm. The driver, a 57-year-old woman, never moved. Her view was blocked. When they opened the door, she was gone.

A cyclist collided with the side of a parked SUV near 926 Fulton Street in Brooklyn. The crash left the 37-year-old cyclist injured, bleeding from the arm. According to the police report, the SUV driver, a 57-year-old woman, was sitting behind the wheel with her view obstructed. She did not move during the crash and was later found unresponsive. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor. No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield were cited. The data does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The crash highlights the danger when visibility is blocked and large vehicles line city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4569091, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A northbound Audi SUV struck a 13-year-old boy on Clinton Avenue. The boy was not in a crosswalk. His leg was crushed. He stayed conscious. The driver did not stop. The street went quiet. Morning light fell on brick and asphalt.

A 13-year-old boy was hit by a northbound Audi SUV near 537 Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the boy was not at a crosswalk when the SUV struck him with its front end, crushing his leg. The boy remained conscious after the impact. The driver did not stop and left the scene. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The crash left the street silent in the morning light.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4568866, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota sedan hit a 7-year-old boy crossing Madison Street. The driver, distracted, kept going straight. The boy’s leg was crushed. He stayed conscious. The car showed no damage. Failure to yield and inattention marked the crash.

A 7-year-old boy was struck by a Toyota sedan near 780 Madison Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child was crossing mid-block when the sedan, driven by a 29-year-old woman, hit him head-on. The boy suffered crush injuries to his leg but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The sedan continued straight and showed no visible damage. No injuries were reported for the driver or passengers. The boy was not in a crosswalk or at a signal, but the primary causes cited were driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4555519, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An e-scooter hit a parked sedan on Howard Avenue. The rider, 41, flew forward. His face split open. Blood pooled. He lay still, incoherent. The car never moved. The street swallowed the sound.

An e-scooter rider, age 41, crashed into a parked sedan near 699 Howard Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the e-scooter 'slammed a parked sedan.' The rider was ejected and suffered severe facial lacerations, lying incoherent at the scene. The sedan was unoccupied and did not move. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are cited in the data. The rider was not wearing any safety equipment, as noted after the absence of driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4553327, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A young man on an e-bike slammed into a parked SUV on Greene Avenue before dawn. His helmet shattered. His body was thrown and crushed. He died in the street. The SUV never moved. The city stayed silent.

A 25-year-old man riding an e-bike east on Greene Avenue struck a parked SUV. According to the police report, the rider was partially ejected and suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. His helmet cracked on impact. The SUV, registered in New Jersey, was parked and unoccupied. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are recorded for the SUV, which did not move during the crash. The e-bike rider was unlicensed. No other injuries were reported. The police report states: 'His helmet cracked. His body broke. He was thrown, crushed, and left dying in the street. The SUV never moved. It didn’t have to.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4544251, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan struck a woman on an e-bike at Lexington and Throop. She flew, hit her head, died in the street. Her bike lay crushed. The sedan’s bumper bore the mark. The driver had no license. The street was quiet. The loss was total.

A woman riding an e-bike was killed when a westbound sedan struck her at the corner of Lexington Avenue and Throop Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A woman on an e-bike struck by a westbound sedan. She flew, hit her head, died in the street. Her bike lay crushed. The sedan’s bumper bore the mark. The driver had no license.' The sedan’s driver was unlicensed, as confirmed in the vehicle data. No other contributing factors were listed in the report. The e-bike rider suffered fatal head injuries and was ejected from her bike. No helmet use was reported as a contributing factor. The crash left the e-bike demolished and the woman dead at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4540551, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15