Cars Crash into Scaffolding on Pineapple and Hicks Streets in Brooklyn Heights

By on December 8, 2011 2:15 pm in Brooklyn Heights

This just in…Two cars collided at the corner of Pineapple and Hicks Street at around 1pm. No reported injuries. Emergency services on the scene.

Share this Story:

, ,

  • David on Middagh

    A few minutes ago, the intersection was still blocked to street traffic, as the tow truck pulled the passenger car off the sidewalk and firefighters took down the unstable corner scaffolding.

  • Andrew Porter

    Cars are *always* crashing at this intersection, usually because the car on Pineapple can’t see the traffic on Hicks because of the cars parked along the west side of the street. About 15-20 crashes over the decades I’ve lived here.

    This time the two cars were side by side on Hicks, and the cab nudged the black car into the sidewalk shed. The corner of that collapsed when the tow truck pulled the car out from under. Intersection closed, and space under shed closed off until the shed is rebuilt (sounds of hammering now, at 3:46pm). I stood at the corner of Hicks and Orange from 2:45-3:15, redirecting kids, moms and nannies coming home from PS 8 to the other side of Hicks. Yes, that was me again. Not here when all this happened. My alibi: I was shopping at Trader Joe’s and Sahadi with David on Middagh; missed the excitement.

  • Heightsguy

    Bystanders told me a different story (Rashomon all over again), that the cab went through the stop sign and crashed into the black car. I am continually having to jump back when cars don’t stop. at stop signs, or I have to jump when they stop in the pedestrian crosswalk, after I’ve stepped off the curb This week I was 1/3 of the way across Cranberry, at Columbia Heights, and a car turned off of CH at a rapid speed and came way close. Got cursed out for protesting. Also they do not stop at the stopsign on Furman where there is a pedestrian crosswalk, about 50% of the time, even when there is a person on a cane in the actual intersection. End of rant (for now).

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/13189502@N02/ Eddyenergizer

    Hicks St needs “all way” stop signs at those intersections. As a driver it is very hard to see if a car is coming due to the parked cars and many drivers barreling down Hicks.

  • not cool

    I was in front of the dry cleaners when it happened. I saw and heard the cab crash into the charcoal car. I instinctively ran to get away from the moving cars and possible flying debris. I ended up in the brick garage which belongs to the cleaners as the cars were slamming into the sidewalk shed. I immediately grabbed my phone and dialed 911.

    There was no nudging. The cab blew through the stop sign without pause.

  • Bornhere

    There was a time that the corner of Pierrepont and Hicks provided the same drama. Then a traffic light was installed. Pineapple and Hicks should be another candidate for a light — it is almost impossible to see what’s coming down Hicks until you edge into the intersection, and by then, it can be too late.

  • Heightsguy

    There are at least three issues:
    *it is very hard to get across Hicks at the intersections, it’s like Russian Roulette. That’s true of Pineapple, Orange, etc. A light would be good!
    * people who blow through the sign and crash into others and endanger pedestrians like todays taxi guy.
    *Cars that pause, but in the cross-walk, as pedestrians are clearly trying to cross, off the curb, and blocking their path. This on Willow and Pierrepont quite a lot.

    Everything is now cleaned up and I think I’ll be able to retrieve my pants at Coleman Cleaners tomorrow!

  • Elmer Fudd

    Ya think the cab driver was from NJ? Enough said.

  • David on Middagh

    Elmer Fudd, the cabbie’s plate was from New York State.

    Heightsguy: “…I think I’ll be able to retrieve my pants at Coleman Cleaners tomorrow!”

    I thought it was that other poster who was there at the impact? You too?

  • Andrew Porter

    I wasn’t there for the accident; what I posted is what a police officer told me happened. I bow to Heightsguy’s version of events.

  • Knight

    Eddy: if they put all-way stop signs all along Hicks Street it would create a traffic nightmare and still wouldn’t solve the problems that pedestrians face. If anything, a string of well-timed lights would be needed but that would be too expensive for the DOE.

  • Knight

    Sorry … DOT!

  • since47

    We need lights for Hicks Street after Clark Street, and lights for Columbia Heights starting at Clark Street. The cars making the turn off Clark and Orange onto CH just blindly make that right turn, without thought to the cars coming down. I’m sorry – people just don’t know how to drive anymore.

  • Villager

    I hate this corner. I have to cross it four times a day going to/from PS8. Whenever I have to wait at the north-eastern corner, I stay back several feet from the curb. I’ve seen several accidents exactly like this one.

  • David on Middagh

    Why do I suspect that if all neighborhood traffic lights, stop signs, and parking spaces were removed, the number of accidents would decrease?

    And if that is so, isn’t the cost of stop signs and traffic lights subsidizing on-street parking?

    Hmmm….

  • Peter

    We all need to write our councilman and also the DOT about this !

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/13189502@N02/ Eddyenergizer

    Knight, How would a stop sign “create a traffic nightmare”? Granted, a “well timed traffic light” would be the best solution. However, I think a light is unlikely to be installed anytime soon and it being well timed is somewhat of a pipe dream… A stop sign could be installed in a day at relatively low cost.

  • David on Middagh

    Peter: You mean, about removing on-street parking in selected stretches to create the visibility necessary to avoid yet another car crash? If everyone is on board with a specific plan, I think it may be achievable.

  • Peter

    Yes most corners are blocked by parked cars and if your not in a elevated SUV your not going to see a car speeding down Hicks Street.

  • Peter

    until the last minute.

  • Steve R

    In addition to additional stop signs (which probably won’t make much difference since cars just go right through them without stopping), I suggest that DOT install traffic calming devices like speedbumps along on streets that have historically high accident rates. If nothing else it will slow cars down and reduce the energy level of the inevitable collisions.

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/13189502@N02/ Eddyenergizer

    Steve R, Cars don’t stop at stop signs, since when? Given, not all drivers come to an absolute complete stop at all stop signs but they slow way down, enough to see if the intersection is clear. I bike, walk and drive a lot, I hardly ever see anyone just blow through a stop sign.

  • Willow St. Neighbor

    Eddyenergizer,
    I am a pedestrian who walks a good 3 miles a day in the neighborhood and people blow through stop signs ALL the time.
    In addition, I nearly got hit by a car making a turn onto Henry Street from Atlantic Avenue going in the wrong direction down
    a one way street!!!!
    Most days I wish I had eyes in the back of my head because apparently it is not enough to look left, right, up, down, sideways, etc. etc.

  • Heightsguy

    Not a big percentage blow through at top speed, true, but they certain endanger and disrespect pedestrians who have the right of way.

    At Furman St. by Brooklyn Bridge Park is one place they REALLY blow through the new sign at a rate of 50%. I saw a disabled person on a cane trying to cross and almost mowed down. I embarrassed my family by screaming top volume. Crowds of tourists staring at me – a Larry David moment , roll the credits

  • Knight

    Eddy: my point was that if every car had to come to a complete stop at every intersection along Hicks (small distances btwn intersections) it would slow traffic immensely on a main thru-street to the BQE, which in turn would create air quality issues for Hicks residents given the number of diesel & other trucks that run through there every day. And although cars & trucks would stop at the intersections, they are still just as likely to roll into crosswalks (as other posters noted) and scare or injur pedestrians.

  • Willow St. Neighbor

    And let’s not forget to mention the drivers who disregard red lights altogether! A cab went through a light that was red for a couple of seconds. The cab driver stopped right across the street (the corner of Clark and Hicks) and I ran after him. There was a woman and two small children in the back seat of the cab. I was apoplectic and pointed out to the driver that he had CHILDREN in the cab that just ran the full red light.
    Again, I was looked at like there was something wrong with me.

  • Cranberry Beret

    Hicks is not a main through street to the BQE. I believe there’s a “Local Traffic Only” sign at Atlantic. Of course plenty of delivery trucks and other vehicles exiting the neighborhood. And the drivers who ignore the sign when the BQE is backed up.