Recent severe crashes

1. Commercial Van Driver in FDNY Crash; Passenger Dies 2026-03-10T18:44:00+00:00
   AVENUE S
   Placido Dandrea, 78, was returning from a doctor’s appointment in an Access-A-Ride bus when a chain-reaction crash at Avenue S and W. 11th St. in Gravesend happened; he died and 12 people were injured.
   At about 6:45 p.m. on March 10, 2026, police said a commercial van driver heading north on West 11th Street hit an FDNY fire truck whose crew was responding east on Avenue S in Gravesend. The crash became a chain reaction involving an Access-A-Ride bus and a Lexus SUV. Placido Dandrea, 78, a passenger in the Access-A-Ride bus, was taken to South Brooklyn Health and died. The city crash record lists one person killed and 12 people injured. Press accounts reported 11 injured, including five firefighters, while News12 reported 10 people hospitalized. The record lists traffic control disregarded; the Daily News reported competing accounts over who had the light and whether the van driver yielded.
2. School bus driver kills 11-year-old in Bath Beach crosswalk 2026-02-05T15:05:00+00:00
   23 AVE
   A deli worker remembered 11-year-old Amira Aminova as a quiet regular. Official crash records say she was killed just after 3 PM at 23rd and Bath avenues while crossing with the signal as a bus driver turned right.
   The crash happened just after 3 p.m. on Feb. 5, 2026, at 23rd Avenue and Bath Avenue in Bath Beach. Official crash records say Amira Aminova, 11, was crossing with the signal at the intersection while a bus driver was making a right turn, and list failure to yield right-of-way as a contributing factor. Police identified the driver as Wawa Aurelus, 62, and charged him with failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care. Reports agreed the driver did not remain at the scene, while CBS reported police said he told investigators he was not aware of the crash and was not charged with leaving the scene.
3. Distracted moped rider slams teen passenger 2026-01-14T09:48:00+00:00
   86 ST
   A distracted moped rider going east on 86th Street hit parked and moving SUVs, ejecting a 15-year-old passenger and leaving him with crush injuries. Morning in Bensonhurst, and a kid paid for an adult’s inattention.
   According to the police report, a moped rider heading east on 86th Street near 24th Avenue hit a parked SUV and then an SUV driven northbound. Police recorded driver inattention and disregard of traffic control by the moped rider. A 15-year-old male passenger on the moped was ejected and suffered crush injuries to his entire body. Other occupants were listed; the report does not describe their injuries.
4. Driver inexperience leaves passenger hurt 2026-06-03T20:55:00+00:00
   8973 BAY PKWY
   Police recorded driver inexperience after two drivers crashed near 8973 Bay Parkway. An 18-year-old front-seat passenger and a 28-year-old driver suffered internal injuries.
   According to the police report, two drivers going straight ahead crashed near 8973 Bay Parkway in Brooklyn at about 8:55 p.m. on June 3. Police recorded driver inexperience. An 18-year-old woman riding in the front passenger seat and a 28-year-old woman driving were injured; both injuries were listed as internal and affecting the entire body.
5. Drunk, unlicensed moped driver slams pickup 2026-04-07T04:06:00+00:00
   1828 W 8 ST
   A 19-year-old unlicensed moped driver hit a parked pickup on W 8th Street overnight. Police recorded alcohol involvement; the rider was ejected and injured.
   According to the police report, a 19-year-old man driving a moped south on 1828 W 8th Street in Brooklyn hit a parked Ford pick-up truck at 4:06 a.m. on April 7, 2026. Police recorded alcohol involvement. The moped driver was ejected and listed as semiconscious with a face injury and minor bleeding. Other occupants were listed; the report does not describe their injuries.