15-Year-Old Driver Injures Pedestrian in Brooklyn Pursuit

On the morning of September 14, 2025, a routine NYPD patrol in East New York, Brooklyn, escalated into a brief but chaotic vehicle pursuit, ending in a collision that injured a pedestrian. The incident unfolded around 9:42 a.m. near the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Hegeman Avenue, in the 75th Precinct.

Officers from the 75th Precinct spotted a black Honda Accord matching the description of a stolen vehicle reported earlier that day. The car, allegedly driven by a 15-year-old boy, was observed operating recklessly on nearby streets, including Linden Boulevard and Vermont Street. When officers attempted to pull over the vehicle, the driver fled westbound on Hegeman Avenue, initiating the pursuit.

The chase was short-lived. Surveillance footage from a local business, City Mini Market, captured the Honda speeding head-on into a traffic pole at Pennsylvania and Hegeman. The impact dislodged the pole, which struck a 71-year-old man standing on the sidewalk. The pedestrian sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was rushed to Brookdale University Hospital in stable condition.

The teenage driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by pursuing officers blocks away. No officers or bystanders were seriously harmed, and the pursuit did not involve high speeds or extend beyond the immediate neighborhood, aligning with NYPD's updated policy restricting chases to serious offenses like vehicle theft.

Police recovered the Honda, confirmed stolen from a nearby area, and charged the juvenile with multiple counts: grand larceny auto, leaving the scene of an accident, criminal possession of stolen property, reckless endangerment, and obstructing governmental administration. He was released to family pending court appearance, as per juvenile protocols.