Brooklyn Bridge

One Driver Dead in Multi-Car Crash in Brooklyn Bridge [Updated]

An early morning crash shuts down the fabled span.

By Gersh Kuntzman

8:52 AM EST on November 21, 2018

One Driver Dead in Multi-Car Crash in Brooklyn Bridge [Updated]

Aftermath of the crash. Photo: Gersh Kuntzman

One driver was killed in a fiery multi-car crash this morning on the Brooklyn-bound car lanes of the Brooklyn Bridge that injured five in all, police said.

Huge fire on Brooklyn bridge. Heard a bang and here it is. #NYC pic.twitter.com/bDBUSdytw4
— Alex Yaggy (@alexyaggy) November 21, 2018

The collision caused at least three of the cars to ignite. FDNY said it put out the blaze within 45 minutes of the 7:15 crash. There may have been as many as four cars involved, WABC7 reported.

#FDNY members are operating on scene of multiple vehicles on fire on the Brooklyn Bridge. There is one civilian fatality reported. The fire has been knocked down. pic.twitter.com/cPG5WVGazA
— FDNY (@FDNY) November 21, 2018

The crash shut down the span for more than an hour on Wednesday morning, but Manhattan-bound lanes were reopened by 8:45 a.m.

The bike and pedestrian path remained closed as of 10 a.m. A spokesman for the Department of Transportation said the path was “not affected.”

“There is no visible structural damage noted at this time,” said spokesman Brian Zumhagen.

The bridge will be inspected once the NYPD reopens the Brooklyn-bound lanes, he added.

Maybe it's time to rethink unfettered access to our most famous landmarks via highly combustible and poorly regulated motor vehicles?https://t.co/2T84wqd51L
— Bike Snob NYC (@bikesnobnyc) November 21, 2018

Here’s one more Streetsblog pic:

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Gersh Kuntzman

Tabloid legend Gersh Kuntzman has been with New York newspapers since 1989, including stints at the New York Daily News, the Post, the Brooklyn Paper and even a cup of coffee with the Times. He's also the writer and producer of "Murder at the Food Coop," which was a hit at the NYC Fringe Festival in 2016, and “SUV: The Musical” in 2007. He also writes the Cycle of Rage column, which is archived here.

Brooklyn Bridge | Carnage

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