Another Body, Another Excuse: Who Pays for Senate District 26’s Deadly Streets?

Two SUVs clash on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Metal tears, glass shatters. A young driver, bloodied and alone, stays conscious behind the wheel. The crash leaves the eastbound lanes scarred, the morning unbroken, the system unchanged.

According to the police report, two station wagons/SUVs collided eastbound on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The crash occurred after a 'sudden swerve,' with one vehicle changing lanes and the other going straight ahead. The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors, both indicating driver error. The 21-year-old male driver of a 2007 Toyota SUV suffered severe facial bleeding but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The point of impact was the center front end of the Toyota and the right rear bumper of the 2019 Ford SUV. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The collision underscores the dangers of sudden maneuvers and close following distances on high-speed expressways, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758471, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan’s front bumper slammed into a 43-year-old cyclist on Belt Parkway. The man was ejected, suffering fatal head trauma. He died alone in the darkness, the highway silent but for the hum of passing cars.

A 43-year-old man riding a bike westbound on Belt Parkway was killed when a sedan, traveling east, struck him with its left front bumper. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected and suffered fatal head trauma, dying at the scene before dawn. The narrative states, 'A 43-year-old man on a bike, no helmet, struck by a sedan’s front bumper. Ejected. Head trauma. He died there in the dark, alone, the road lit only by headlights and the hush before dawn.' The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver errors such as 'Failure to Yield' or 'Distraction' are cited in the data. The police report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail appears after the description of the collision and is not listed as a contributing factor. The impact and fatality underscore the lethal consequences when cars and vulnerable road users collide on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755430, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A white SUV struck a 74-year-old man in a Bay Ridge crosswalk. The driver did not slow down. The victim flew through the air. He died at the hospital. The driver fled. Senator Gounardes called for prosecution and safer streets.

On September 12, 2024, State Senator Andrew Gounardes (District 26) responded to a fatal hit-and-run in Bay Ridge. Surveillance video shows a white SUV slamming into Segundo Reina-Gaon, 74, at Ridge Boulevard and Bay Ridge Avenue. The driver did not slow down and fled the scene. Gounardes wrote, 'Awful news to wake up to this morning in Bay Ridge. The video is hard to watch. The driver doesn’t appear to even slow down. This driver needs to be apprehended and prosecuted. And we will continue to work with DOT to make this intersection – and Ridge Boulevard – safer.' Gounardes supports stronger enforcement and street redesign to protect pedestrians. The crash underscores the deadly risk to vulnerable road users at dangerous intersections.

• Brutal video shows SUV plow into 74-year-old, send him flying in fatal hit-and-run crash, nypost.com, Published 2024-09-12

A white SUV struck and killed a 74-year-old man in a Bay Ridge crosswalk. The driver fled. Council Member Justin Brannan called out the violence. Police search for answers. Grief and anger grip the neighborhood. The victim’s family mourns. Justice remains elusive.

On September 12, 2024, Council Member Justin Brannan (District 47) responded to a deadly hit-and-run in Bay Ridge. The incident, reported by brooklynpaper.com, saw a 74-year-old pedestrian killed while crossing Ridge Boulevard at Bay Ridge Avenue. The matter, titled 'Police seek driver of white SUV after 74-year-old killed in Bay Ridge hit-and-run,' details how the driver fled, leaving the victim and several damaged vehicles behind. Brannan posted: 'This is not the news any of us wanted to wake up to today. One of our neighbors was killed by a driver in a white SUV last night. The driver took off, and all of it was captured on video.' State Senator Andrew Gounardes also voiced outrage and concern. Both officials pledged to support the investigation and seek justice for the victim. No safety analyst assessment was provided for this event.

• Police seek driver of white SUV after 74-year-old killed in Bay Ridge hit-and-run, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-09-12

A 74-year-old man crossed Bay Ridge Avenue. A northbound Honda SUV hit him with its right front bumper. His body broke on metal. The street stayed quiet. He did not rise. The crash ended one life in Brooklyn’s dark.

A 74-year-old man was killed while crossing Bay Ridge Avenue near Ridge Boulevard in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 8:56 p.m. when a northbound Honda SUV struck the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The report states, 'A 74-year-old man stepped into the dark against the light. A northbound Honda SUV struck him with its right front bumper. His body broke against metal. The street stayed quiet. He did not rise.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. The pedestrian was noted as 'Crossing Against Signal,' but no driver errors or additional contributing factors were cited by police. The SUV sustained damage to its right front bumper. The crash resulted in fatal injuries to the pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755010, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 24-year-old motorcyclist struck a dump truck’s rear on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Ejected, helmeted, crushed, he died on the asphalt. The truck rolled on. The crash left head trauma and silence under the sun.

A fatal collision unfolded on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway when a 24-year-old motorcyclist, traveling east, crashed into the back of a dump truck, according to the police report. The report states the motorcyclist was 'ejected' and suffered 'head trauma' and 'crush injuries.' He was wearing a helmet. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor in the crash. Both vehicles were moving straight ahead at the time of impact. The dump truck sustained damage to its center back end, while the motorcycle was damaged at the center front. According to the police report, the motorcyclist died at the scene. No driver errors or contributing factors are listed for the dump truck. The report details a violent, high-speed impact and its deadly aftermath.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750223, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A westbound Kia sedan struck hard on Columbia and Creamer. Five inside. One young man gashed, arm torn open, blood on the seat. The others untouched. Metal, flesh, and silence. The city moves on, but the wound remains.

A 2005 Kia sedan traveling westbound on Columbia Street at Creamer Street in Brooklyn struck with force, according to the police report. Inside the vehicle were five passengers. The report states that a 23-year-old male passenger suffered 'severe lacerations' to his arm, described as 'flesh torn' and 'blood spilled.' The other four occupants were uninjured. The police report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified,' providing no further details on the cause of the crash or any specific driver errors. No evidence is cited regarding the behavior of the injured passenger or the use of safety equipment. The impact left one person wounded while the rest continued unscathed, underscoring the unpredictable violence inside a moving car.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749962, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Atlantic Avenue gets a lifeline. New mid-block crossings, concrete islands, and curb extensions aim to slow cars and protect people. Local leaders call it overdue. For years, crashes haunted this corridor. Now, the city moves to put people before traffic.

On July 26, 2024, Council Member Lincoln Restler announced major street safety upgrades for Atlantic Avenue in District 33. The project, led by NYC DOT, brings mid-block crossings, concrete pedestrian islands, curb enhancements, and split-phase signals to one of Brooklyn’s deadliest corridors. The matter, titled 'Atlantic Avenue upgrade: Locals celebrate major safety fixes coming to dangerous corridor,' highlights years of advocacy after repeated crashes. Restler, who has long pushed for these changes, praised the progress: 'Atlantic Avenue has been extremely dangerous my whole life. I'm excited by the progress we're making in partnership with DOT to expand mid-block crossings and other smart interventions to slow down cars and advance safety in our community.' The announcement follows a deadly crash last spring and is part of the city’s Vision Zero push. Local officials and advocates say these changes mark a crucial step in ending the street’s legacy of danger and death.

• Atlantic Avenue upgrade: Locals celebrate major safety fixes coming to dangerous corridor, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-07-26

Council Speaker Adams wavers on using new power to lower speed limits. She calls for district input. Advocates warn: patchwork rules endanger lives. Uniform 20 mph limit saves people. Council delays action as streets stay deadly.

On July 19, 2024, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams addressed the Council’s authority under Sammy’s Law, which lets New York City lower its speed limit. The matter, discussed in Streetsblog, quotes Adams: “Each Council member is going to have to weigh in on how they feel it should be enacted or should not be enacted in their district.” Adams hesitated to commit to a citywide 20 mph limit, instead suggesting community-by-community decisions. Eric McClure of StreetsPAC called this approach “chaotic and dangerous,” pushing for a uniform 20 mph limit to save lives. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives urged a comprehensive, data-driven plan. State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Brad Hoylman-Sigal pressed the Council to use its new powers. The Department of Transportation clarified its limited authority. The Council’s delay leaves vulnerable road users at risk.

• Speaker Adams: Council May Not Use its ‘Sammy’s Law’ Power to Lower Speed Limits, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-19

A southbound taxi struck a 60-year-old woman crossing Flatbush at 4th. Her head hit pavement. Limbs crushed. She lay unconscious as sirens broke the quiet. The cab’s front end crumpled, the street marked by violence and silence.

According to the police report, a southbound taxi struck a 60-year-old woman at the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and 4th Avenue in Brooklyn at 23:17. The report states the pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the collision occurred. The impact was severe: her head hit first, and she suffered crush injuries to her limbs. She was found unconscious at the scene. The taxi’s center front end was wrecked, indicating a direct, forceful impact. The police report lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor for both parties, and does not cite any specific driver error. The narrative underscores the violence of the crash and the vulnerability of the pedestrian, who was in the intersection when struck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739975, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A dump truck turned right on Bond and Butler. Steel met flesh. An 83-year-old woman, crossing without a signal, was struck and killed. The truck showed no damage. The street absorbed another silent, brutal loss.

According to the police report, an 83-year-old woman was crossing at the corner of Bond Street and Butler Street in Brooklyn when a northbound dump truck, registered in New Jersey, made a right turn and struck her. The report states the pedestrian was 'crossing without a signal.' The truck, described as a 2018 KW-TRUCK/BUS, showed 'no damage' after the crash. The victim suffered fatal injuries to her entire body and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police list the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. The report notes the truck's point of impact was the 'right front quarter panel.' The narrative describes the moment as one where 'her body bore the weight of steel, silence, and final breath.' No driver errors are explicitly cited in the data, and no victim behaviors are listed as contributing factors beyond the absence of a crossing signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735930, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A northbound SUV turned at 80th Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway. The bumper struck a 56-year-old cyclist. He hit the pavement hard, head bleeding, conscious. The driver remained. The city’s danger pressed down, unyielding.

According to the police report, a northbound SUV made a turn at the corner of 80th Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn. The vehicle struck a 56-year-old cyclist, who was ejected and landed hard on the street. The cyclist suffered a head injury with severe bleeding and remained conscious on the pavement. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the crash. The SUV's right front bumper was the point of impact. The narrative states, 'A northbound SUV turned. A cyclist, 56, struck the bumper, thrown hard to the street. No helmet. Head bleeding. Conscious. The pavement held him. The driver stayed.' The driver’s failure to yield directly led to the collision and injury. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned after the driver’s error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734293, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council backs tougher fines for drivers who hide plates. Obscured tags let reckless motorists dodge cameras and tickets. The problem grows. Lawmakers want stiffer penalties to stop the evasion and protect people on city streets.

Resolution 0467-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced June 20, 2024, it urges Albany to pass S.2447/A.5234. The measure’s title: 'increase the penalties for purposefully obstructed license plates.' Council Members Justin L. Brannan (primary sponsor, District 47) and Robert F. Holden (co-sponsor, District 30) lead the push. The bill targets drivers who cover or deface plates to evade speed, red-light, and bus-lane cameras. Data shows unreadable plates rose from 3.98% to 4.66% in one year. The city lost up to $38.7 million in unissued tickets between 2019 and 2022. The resolution calls for higher fines, confiscation of plate coverings, and registration suspensions. Lawmakers say this crackdown is needed to keep dangerous drivers from slipping through the cracks and to make streets safer for everyone.

• File Res 0467-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-06-20

Albany lawmakers shut down a last-ditch MTA funding plan after Governor Hochul paused congestion pricing. No replacement for the lost $1 billion. Transit riders and street users face uncertainty. Lawmakers call the move reckless. The city waits. Danger lingers.

On June 7, 2024, the New York State legislative session ended without passing a replacement funding plan for the MTA after Governor Kathy Hochul paused congestion pricing. The matter, described as 'Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing,' left the MTA without the $1 billion annual revenue congestion pricing would have provided. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced the session’s close without a deal. Lawmakers including State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, State Sen. John Liu, Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, and Assemblyman Tony Simone criticized the governor’s decision and the proposed IOU bailout. Gounardes said, 'I cannot in good conscience ratify a decision that will eliminate a significant, dedicated revenue source for the MTA’s capital plan.' The pause leaves the city’s transit future—and the safety of those who rely on it—uncertain.

• Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing, nypost.com, Published 2024-06-07

Senate Bill S 9718 passed. It pushes for complete street design. The aim: safer roads for everyone. Pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers stand to gain. The vote split. Some senators said no. But the bill moved forward. Streets may change.

Senate Bill S 9718, titled "Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles," advanced through the Senate with committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) and co-sponsored by Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, passed both votes despite opposition. The measure calls for redesigning streets to protect all users, not just drivers. The vote was not unanimous—several senators voted no, but the majority carried it through. The bill’s focus is clear: safer streets for people on foot, on bikes, and in vehicles. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is to cut danger at the curb and crosswalk.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

A young woman rode her e-bike north on 7th Avenue at 79th Street. She struck something, her helmet cracked, blood flowed. She collapsed, unconscious, head torn, alone in the dark. The street swallowed her pain, silent and unyielding.

According to the police report, a 20-year-old woman riding an e-bike northbound at the corner of 7th Avenue and 79th Street suffered a severe head injury. The narrative states, 'She struck something. Her helmet cracked. Blood ran. She collapsed on the pavement, head torn, eyes closed, alone in the dark.' The report lists her as 'unconscious' with 'severe bleeding' from the head. The contributing factors are marked as 'Unspecified,' and no driver errors or external vehicle involvement are cited. The report notes she wore a helmet, which cracked during the crash. No mention is made of any pedestrian or other vehicle involvement. The focus remains on the solitary, violent impact and the resulting injury, with the cause left undetermined in official records.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728038, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man on an e-scooter collided with a Honda SUV pulling from the curb on 5th Avenue. Metal struck flesh. His arm was crushed. He stayed conscious as the street fell silent, pain and shock hanging in the air.

According to the police report, a man riding an e-scooter was traveling straight northbound on 5th Avenue near 37th Street in Brooklyn when he struck the front of a Honda SUV that was pulling out from the curb. The report states the e-scooter rider suffered crush injuries to his arm but remained awake and conscious at the scene. The SUV, registered in New York and operated by a licensed driver from New Jersey, was described as 'starting from parking' at the time of the crash. The point of impact was the left front quarter panel of the SUV and the center front end of the e-scooter. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The narrative underscores the moment of impact: 'metal met flesh and the silence held.' No driver errors are explicitly cited, but the sequence of events highlights the systemic danger when vehicles pull from the curb into active traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727490, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 66-year-old woman rode her moped west on 39th Street. The street gave way. She flew, struck her head, and died alone on the asphalt. No helmet. The city’s broken ground claimed her last breath.

A 66-year-old woman was killed while riding a moped westbound on 39th Street, near Council District 38, according to the police report. The report states, 'The pavement broke beneath her.' She was ejected from the moped, struck her head, and died at the scene. Police list 'Pavement Defective' as the primary contributing factor. The victim was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the systemic failure of the roadway. No other vehicles or persons were involved. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of neglected infrastructure, as the defective pavement directly led to the fatal ejection and head injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726907, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A pickup truck turned left across 4th Avenue, striking a 49-year-old man on an e-bike. Thrown and crushed, he died in the street. The twisted bike and bloodied truck marked the violence of the city’s roads.

A 49-year-old man riding an e-bike was killed at the intersection of 4th Avenue and 53rd Street in Brooklyn when a pickup truck turned left and struck him, according to the police report. The report states the e-bike rider was 'thrown' and 'crushed,' dying at the scene. Both the pickup truck and the e-bike were cited for 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The pickup, a 2007 Chevrolet, was making a left turn when it collided with the e-bike, which was traveling straight. The police report describes the aftermath: 'The bike lay twisted. The truck bore blood and silence.' The e-bike rider was ejected and suffered crush injuries to the entire body. The data does not specify helmet use or other victim behaviors as contributing factors. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726906, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 51-year-old man lost consciousness while driving westbound on the Gowanus Expressway. His SUV collided with seven vehicles, tearing metal and shattering glass. He died restrained in his seat as traffic crawled past the wreckage. Multiple occupants suffered neck injuries.

According to the police report, a 51-year-old man driving a station wagon/SUV westbound on the Gowanus Expressway lost consciousness behind the wheel. The report states, "His SUV struck seven cars. Metal tore. Glass scattered. Airbags bloomed." The driver died at the scene, "strapped in his seat, still and silent, as traffic crawled past the wreckage." The sole contributing factor cited is "Lost Consciousness." The collision involved multiple vehicles traveling straight ahead, with impacts to center back ends, side doors, and quarter panels. Several occupants suffered neck injuries consistent with whiplash. The report does not list any driver errors or contributing factors for the other drivers. The crash was caused by the initial driver's loss of consciousness, triggering a deadly chain reaction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725083, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15