Two Riders Killed in Atlantic Avenue Motorcycle Crash
Reinaldo Rodriguez and passenger Mirella Vega, both 42, died after Rodriguez and a 66-year-old SUV driver were involved in a Labor Day crash at Atlantic Avenue and Elton Street in Cypress Hills.
What We Know
Reinaldo Rodriguez, 42, was riding a 2025 Harley-Davidson west on Atlantic Avenue with Mirella Vega, 42, as his passenger when they and a 66-year-old driver in a 2021 Mercedes-Benz SUV were involved in a crash at Elton Street on Sept. 1, 2025. The official record lists two motorists killed and one injured. Press accounts citing police say both riders were thrown from the motorcycle; Rodriguez died at the scene, and Vega died after medics took her to Brookdale. The Daily News account says the SUV driver was making a left turn off Atlantic Avenue onto Elton Street and that Rodriguez crashed into the SUV's rear passenger side, while Patch reported that the SUV driver struck the motorcycle during the turn. Police said the driver stayed at the scene and no arrests had been made as the investigation continued.
The crash at Atlantic Avenue and Elton Street
The official record places the crash at 8:11 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2025, at Atlantic Avenue and Elton Street in Brooklyn. It records a motorcycle traveling west and an SUV traveling north before the crash, with two motorists killed and one injured.
Press accounts citing police identified the people killed as Reinaldo Rodriguez, the motorcycle rider, and Mirella Vega, his passenger, both 42. They reported that both were thrown from the motorcycle; Rodriguez died at the scene, and Vega died after medics took her to Brookdale University Hospital.
Accounts differ on the turning crash sequence
The official vehicle record says the motorcycle was going straight ahead and the SUV driver was making a left turn. The Daily News account reported that the 66-year-old driver was turning from Atlantic Avenue onto Elton Street when Rodriguez reached the intersection and crashed into the SUV's rear passenger side. Patch, also citing police, reported that the SUV driver struck the motorcycle while beginning the left turn.
Lives behind the names
The Daily News reported that Rodriguez had recently retired from the NYPD after joining in 2004 and leaving Brooklyn's 77th Precinct in March. His father told the paper, "He was full of life."
The same account described Vega as Rodriguez's girlfriend and reported that she worked as a medical assistant and had three children. Her eldest daughter told the paper, "She was involved in everyone's lives — She was the most selfless person you will ever meet."
Atlantic Avenue is one of Brooklyn's crash corridors
The crash happened at Atlantic Avenue and Elton Street in Cypress Hills. CrashCountNYC location data for Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn shows 4,096 crashes, 2,408 injuries, 109 serious injuries and 10 deaths from 2022 through June 1, 2026.
The driver stayed as police investigated
Police told reporters that the SUV driver stayed at the scene and was taken to Brookdale University Hospital in stable condition. Press accounts reported that no arrests or charges had been filed as the NYPD Highway District's Collision Investigation Squad continued its investigation.