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Police are continuing to probe a chain-reaction collision in Brooklyn that left a mother and her young daughter seriously injured.
According to law enforcement sources, the incident unfolded just after 9 p.m. near the intersection of Park and Nostrand Avenues in Bedford-Stuyvesant when police said they received a 911 call of a pedestrian being struck.
Cops said a 31-year-old man driving a 2024 Honda Odyssey was driving southbound on Nostrand Avenue before colliding with a 2023 Fisker Ocean TLC vehicle at the intersection. The 39-year-old driver of the Fisker lost control of his car and jumped the curb, striking the 31-year-old mother and her 4-year-old daughter who were walking on the sidewalk.
EMS rushed both victims to Bellevue Hospital, where they remain hospitalized but are expected to recover.
Meanwhile, both drivers remained on scene, and no arrests have been made. The investigation remains ongoing.
The Jamaica Bay Riding Academy, a 54-year-old Brooklyn landmark at 7000 Shore Parkway, recently closed its doors, leaving many to wonder what happened to the roughly 50 horses that provided equestrian experiences for thousands of riders each year.
About 35 of the horses were taken in by individuals, primarily throughout the New York metropolitan area and tri-state region. Many of the animals were longtime favorites among riders who frequented the well-known facility.
The remaining horses are being cared for at 13 Hands Equine Rescue Inc., a nonprofit organization in Clinton Corners, Dutchess County, near the Taconic State Parkway. The organization is known for rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming horses in need.
Founded 11 years ago by Bedford Hills business owner Mary Lou Tortorello, 13 Hands has placed each horse from the Jamaica Bay Riding Academy in a 30-day quarantine period to rest, receive medical attention and begin the recovery process.
The Jamaica Bay Riding Academy announced its closure in May, citing the retirement of its longtime horses and the end of an era for the family-run business. In a farewell message, the Danza family thanked generations of riders, staff and supporters who helped make the academy a fixture of Brooklyn’s equestrian community for more than five decades.
“After 54 unforgettable years, Jamaica Bay Riding Academy will be closing its doors,” the family wrote. “What began as a family-owned business grew into something far greater — a home, a tradition, and a place where countless memories were made.”
The family said the academy was “never just about riding horses,” but “about connection, resilience, and community,” recalling decades of lessons, competitions, friendships and time spent at the barn. They also said the academy’s horses had earned a well-deserved retirement after years of service.
“While it is bittersweet to say goodbye, we are happy knowing they will now spend their days resting, grazing, and being cared for with the same love they have always known,” the statement read. “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for 54 incredible years.”
That next chapter is underway at 13 Hands, where the former academy horses are receiving care, evaluation and a chance to find new purpose. Tortorello explained the road ahead for the animals.
“Once cleared by a licensed veterinarian, they come to 13 Hands where their transformation continues. Some will go on to become partners in our Equine Assisted Learning programs for veterans and children, offering quiet strength, comfort, and connection,” she said. “Others will be adopted into loving homes. And for those who need lifelong sanctuary, 13 Hands becomes home — a place where they can live out their lives in peace and safety.”
Tortorello said the academy’s closure marks the end of an era but not the end of the connection between horses and people.
“This Brooklyn riding academy is now in the past. However, we carry the torch of extraordinary power of the horse-human bond,” she said. “At 13 Hands, we’re not just rescuing horses — we’re creating opportunities for healing on both sides of the fence. Through education and outreach, we strive to raise awareness about equine welfare and the importance of rescue efforts.”
Additional reporting by Meaghan McGoldrick O’Neil