A driver accused of causing a fatal drunk-driving crash that killed Nassau County Police Officer Patricia Espinosa has been indicted and arraigned on multiple felony charges in Suffolk County. Matthew Smith, 20, of Hauppauge, was arraigned on March 13, 2026, on charges including aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, aggravated vehicular…
A newly released report by the ECRI and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices identifies the most serious threats to patient safety expected to impact healthcare in 2026. The annual Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns report underscores a troubling reality: despite decades of reform efforts, preventable harm remains deeply embedded…
Plans to build a long-awaited protected bike lane along the eastern edge of Prospect Park are finally moving forward, bringing important safety improvements to one of Brooklyn’s most heavily used cycling corridors. According to city transportation officials, construction will begin this month on a $16.25 million restoration and safety project…
A 4-year-old boy was fatally struck by an SUV on Thursday morning outside Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center on Rockaway Parkway near Linden Boulevard in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. According to police, the tragic collision occurred around 11:10 a.m. on March 5, 2026. Authorities say the child had just left the…
Falls with injury remain one of the most common causes of preventable harm in hospitals. Federal regulators are now placing increased scrutiny on these incidents as part of broader patient safety initiatives. New and updated reporting measures from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are designed to improve…
A Long Island man has been arrested more than a year after a fatal crash on the Belt Parkway in Queens that claimed the life of a 27-year-old woman. According to police, Kenyatta Junior Weston, 31, was charged with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, driving while…
A Brooklyn public school teacher has been arrested after a 16-year-old student reported that he sexually abused her inside a Coney Island school. According to police, Steven Schnee, 48, was taken into custody at the school Wednesday afternoon and charged with forcible touching, endangering the welfare of a child, and…
Community members, street-safety advocates, and families of crash victims recently gathered on Canal Street to hold a vigil honoring the 21 people who have lost their lives in traffic crashes along the corridor over the years. The event was organized to remember the victims and to highlight the ongoing dangers…
Falls and struck-by incidents continue to be among the leading causes of traumatic injuries and deaths on construction sites across the United States. Safety experts and regulators consistently warn that these incidents are largely preventable when proper safety planning, training, and protections are implemented. Each spring, national safety campaigns organized…
Brookdale Hospital Medical Center in Brooklyn recently received a “D” safety grade from the Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization that evaluates hospitals on patient safety, staffing, infection prevention, and medical error risks. While the hospital achieved several administrative and procedural safety benchmarks, the overall grade reflects significant concerns in…