Skip to content

SEE IT: Morning Carnage on Vanderbilt Avenue

A driver mowed down a lamppost at a busy Brooklyn corner Tuesday morning, shearing it off, an indication that someone was driving far too fast.
SEE IT: Morning Carnage on Vanderbilt Avenue
The corner of Vanderbilt Avenue and Sterling Place was littered with debris after Tuesday morning's crash. Photo: David Weiner

A driver mowed down a lamppost at a busy Brooklyn corner Tuesday morning, shearing it — and a massive part of his car — clean off, an indication that someone was driving far too fast.

Cops did not release details of the crash, but the debris trail suggested that the driver was at the corner of Vanderbilt Avenue and Sterling Place when he either lost control of his car and slammed into the light post, or was struck by another driver.

The front end of the car was tangled in the debris of the lamppost. As a Streetsblog reporter took pictures, a person who identified herself as the owner of car’s wife, sifted through the wreckage to retrieve the car’s license plate. She did not offer her name, but said her husband was in the hospital. She did not answer questions about his involvement in the crash.

According to @howsmydrivingny, the car associated with that plate has two serious offenses: speeding and running a red light — both of which were caught on camera. The car was also slapped with tickets for 10 parking offenses.

In all, the driver has paid just $350 on a total of 13 tickets. It costs tens of thousands of dollars to replace a knocked-down lamppost, a cost that is borne by city taxpayers.

Comments Are Temporarily Disabled

Streetsblog is in the process of migrating our commenting system. During this transition, commenting is temporarily unavailable.

Once the migration is complete, you will be able to log back in and will have full access to your comment history. We appreciate your patience and look forward to having you back in the conversation soon.

More from Streetsblog New York City

Former NYPD Chief Admits Giving ‘Free Pass’ to City Workers, Right Wing Allies

March 25, 2026

Mamdani Budget Could Tank Queens Subway Expansion He Once Supported

March 25, 2026

D.C. Advocates Sue To Save Key Bike Lane From Trump

March 25, 2026

New York’s Forgotten 2,000-Mile Bike Network—And What It Can Teach Us Today

March 25, 2026
See all posts