Ocean Parkway to the Belt: CB15’s Deadly Hours

Apr 9 - A driver ran a stop sign in East New York. He slammed into a school bus. His passenger died. The bus driver was hurt. The driver fled in an Uber. Police caught him soon after. Streets remain unforgiving.

Gothamist (April 9, 2025) reports that Tyree Epps, 32, was indicted after allegedly running a stop sign and crashing into a school bus in East New York, Brooklyn. The February collision killed his 26-year-old passenger, Imani Vance, and injured the bus driver. According to the Brooklyn DA, Epps "ignored a stop sign and drove at excessive speeds," then left the scene by calling an Uber, abandoning his injured passenger. The impact pushed the bus into a third, empty vehicle. No children on the bus were harmed. Epps was apprehended after fleeing on foot. The case highlights persistent dangers at intersections and the lethal consequences of ignoring traffic controls.

• Brooklyn Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, Gothamist, Published 2025-04-09

Apr 8 - A sedan struck a parked SUV on E 9th Street. One driver suffered a head injury. Alcohol was involved. Metal crumpled. The street stayed silent.

A sedan traveling south collided with a parked SUV at 2117 E 9th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, alcohol involvement was a contributing factor. The sedan's driver, a 24-year-old man, sustained a head injury and abrasion. The SUV was unoccupied. Two other occupants were listed but not reported injured. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a cause. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804500 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Apr 4 - Ocean Parkway cuts through Brooklyn like a wound. Six lanes, fast cars, old design. State and city spent millions. Speed cameras blink. Still, people die. Politicians block real change. Residents demand more. Enforcement alone fails. The danger remains. Blood stains the asphalt.

"Assembly Member Michael Novakhov recently told Streetsblog he thinks the speed limit is too slow on Ocean Parkway." -- Misha Novakhov

On April 4, 2025, public debate erupted over Ocean Parkway’s safety. The matter, described as 'Tragedy Underscores Shortcomings of Vision Zero Era State Ocean Parkway Fixes,' highlights the failure of current efforts. Despite millions spent on speed cameras and signals, the six-lane highway remains deadly. Assembly Member Michael Novakhov called for higher speed limits. State Senator Simcha Felder pushed for a 30 mph limit, above the citywide standard. Advocates like Jon Orcutt demand deeper redesigns—lane reductions, pedestrian islands. Residents and experts say enforcement alone cannot save lives. Local opposition and political power block bold changes. The city DOT promises more work, but the danger persists. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Vision? Zero: Tragedy Underscores Shortcomings of Efforts to Make Ocean Parkway Safer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-04

Apr 2 - A car plowed through families on Ocean Parkway. Three killed. Survivors hurt, shaken, haunted. The driver had a suspended license, dozens of violations, unpaid fines. The city’s streets failed to protect the most vulnerable. Pain lingers. Justice waits.

ABC7 reported on April 2, 2025, that a crash in Brooklyn killed a mother and her two daughters, leaving another family injured and traumatized. The article states, “Shakhzod described ongoing back pain and fears of another accident.” The driver, Miriam Yarimi, had 93 violations, $10,000 in unpaid fines, and a suspended license. She struck an Uber, then hit families crossing Ocean Parkway, flipping her vehicle. Yarimi faces charges including manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. The crash exposes systemic failure: a driver with a long record remained on the road. Survivors suffer lasting physical and emotional wounds. The city’s enforcement and oversight remain under scrutiny.

• Brooklyn Crash Leaves Family Scarred, Three Dead, ABC7, Published 2025-04-02

Apr 1 - After a crash killed a mother and two daughters in Gravesend, advocates and Council Member Shahana Hanif rallied for the Stop Super Speeders bill. The law would force repeat reckless drivers to use speed-limiting tech. Survivors demand action. Lawmakers promise change.

On April 1, 2025, Council Member Shahana Hanif joined a rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall demanding passage of the Stop Super Speeders bill. The bill, sponsored in Albany by State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, would require drivers with repeated violations to install intelligent speed assistance (ISA) devices. These devices cap speed at 5 mph over the limit for those with 11 or more license points in 24 months or six camera tickets in a year. The rally followed a fatal Gravesend crash that killed a mother and her two daughters. Hanif and other lawmakers called current enforcement—ticketing, suspensions, fines, jail—ineffective. Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon said, 'The speed limiter technology is available to us. Let’s use it. It will save lives.' The bill is modeled on EU and Virginia laws. Some opposition remains, but supporters say the measure is urgent and practical.

• ‘Enough is enough’: Street safety advocates demand passage of ‘Stop Super Speeders’ bill after tragic Gravesend crash, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2025-04-01

Apr 1 - A mother and two children died on Ocean Parkway. A driver with a suspended license and a record of violations struck them. The road has claimed many lives before. Residents see speeding daily. Calls for change echo. Danger remains.

The New York Post (April 1, 2025) reports that Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn has seen 20 deaths since 2014, with nearly 2,400 injuries since 2012. On March 30, Miriam Yarimi, driving with a suspended license and 93 prior traffic violations, crashed into an Uber and then into a family, killing Natasha Saada and two of her children. A third child remains in critical condition. The article quotes Ben Furnas of Transportation Alternatives: Ocean Parkway is 'one of Brooklyn's most dangerous roads.' Residents and advocates demand stronger safety measures, including speed-limiting technology for repeat offenders. Mayor Eric Adams is open to lowering the speed limit, but state approval is needed. Despite Vision Zero, Ocean Parkway remains hazardous for pedestrians.

• Ocean Parkway Crash Exposes Deadly Pattern, New York Post, Published 2025-04-01

Mar 31 - A speeding Audi tore through a Brooklyn crosswalk. A mother and her two daughters died. Her young son clings to life. The driver, with a record of 93 violations, faces manslaughter charges. The street became a killing ground.

According to the New York Post (March 31, 2025), Miriam Yarimi, 35, struck and killed Natasha Saada and her daughters, Diana, 7, and Debra, 5, as they crossed legally in a Brooklyn crosswalk. Saada’s 4-year-old son was critically injured. Police say Yarimi’s Audi was speeding. The article notes her car had over 93 prior traffic violations. Yarimi reportedly told first responders she was 'possessed' and referenced 'the devil in me.' She faces manslaughter and related charges. The case highlights the dangers of repeat traffic offenders and the deadly consequences when enforcement fails. Yarimi is undergoing psychiatric evaluation at Bellevue Hospital.

• Brooklyn Driver Kills Mother, Two Daughters, New York Post, Published 2025-03-31

Mar 31 - Assembly Member Novakhov stood at a funeral for a mother and two children killed by a speeder. He spoke against a bill to fit repeat speeders’ cars with limiters. He called enforcement excessive. Mourners demanded action. The street remains deadly.

On March 31, 2025, Assembly Member Michael Novakhov publicly opposed a state bill requiring speed-limiting devices for cars owned by repeat speeders. The statement came at the funeral for Natasha Saada and her children, killed by a speeding driver on Ocean Parkway. Novakhov argued, 'six red-light or speed violations in one year [is] too little,' and claimed, 'any driver can get much more than six.' He also denounced speed cameras, saying, 'we have too many,' and that they punish regular drivers. The bill’s matter summary centers on requiring devices for vehicles with six violations in a year. Community members and advocates at the funeral demanded stronger accountability and cited the area’s deadly history. Other local politicians, including Kalman Yeger and Simcha Felder, have also opposed speed safety measures. The Department of Transportation has not recommended major changes to Ocean Parkway, despite ongoing danger.

• Local Pol Novakhov Appears to Defends Reckless Driving at Funeral of Mother and Two Kids Killed by Speeder, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-31

Mar 30 - An unlicensed driver sped through a red light on Ocean Parkway. She struck a mother and her three children in the crosswalk. The mother and two daughters died. The son remains in critical condition. The street filled with chaos and grief.

According to NY Daily News (published March 30, 2025), Miriam Yarimi drove with a suspended license and ran a red light on Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, striking a mother and her three children as they crossed legally. Yarimi's Audi, with a history of 21 speed camera and five red light tickets, collided with another car before careening into the family. She was charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, reckless driving, and aggravated unlicensed operation. The crash killed Natasha Saada and her daughters, Deborah and Diana; Saada's son remains in critical condition. The article quotes a relative: 'It's a very sensitive time for us, for our community and for our family.' The case highlights repeated driver violations and the dangers of unlicensed, reckless driving on city streets.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Brooklyn Family, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-30

Mar 29 - A sedan tore through the red at Ocean Parkway. A mother and her children crossed with the signal. Metal struck flesh. Three lives ended on the crosswalk. One child, four, left broken and silent. Brooklyn pavement bore the weight of loss.

According to the police report, a sedan driven by an unlicensed woman ran a red light at Ocean Parkway near Quentin Road in Brooklyn. The report states that a mother and her three children were crossing in the crosswalk with the pedestrian signal when the vehicle struck them. The impact killed the 34-year-old woman and two of her children, ages five and eight. A four-year-old boy was left unconscious and severely injured. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for the driver. The pedestrians were crossing with the signal, as documented in the report. The sedan's center front end struck the victims, underscoring the lethal consequences of ignoring traffic controls. The driver’s unlicensed status and disregard for the signal are central to this tragedy.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801962 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 29 - A mother and two daughters died in a Brooklyn crosswalk. A third child clings to life. Ten hurt. The Audi driver, license suspended, rear-ended a car, then plowed into pedestrians. Ocean Parkway’s speed and lawlessness left a family shattered.

ABC7 reported on March 29, 2025, that a mother and her two children were killed while crossing Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the crash was "caused by someone who shouldn't have been on the road." The Audi driver, Mariam Yarimi, 32, had a suspended license. She rear-ended a Toyota Camry, sending her car airborne into a family in the crosswalk. The mother and two daughters died at the scene; a four-year-old boy was critically injured. Ten people were hospitalized. Residents cited chronic speeding and red-light running on Ocean Parkway. Authorities are investigating speed, possible red-light running, and impairment. No arrests have been made. The crash highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians and systemic failures in traffic enforcement.

• Brooklyn Crosswalk Crash Kills Family, ABC7, Published 2025-03-29

Mar 27 - A 70-year-old man crossing against the signal was struck by a northbound sedan on Avenue U in Brooklyn. The vehicle’s left front bumper hit the pedestrian, causing severe leg injuries. Limited driver visibility contributed to the collision.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Avenue U in Brooklyn struck a 70-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing against the signal. The point of impact was the vehicle’s left front bumper, damaging the left front quarter panel. The pedestrian suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at level 3. The report identifies "View Obstructed/Limited" as a contributing factor, indicating the driver’s limited visibility played a role in the crash. The pedestrian’s crossing against the signal is noted but driver error related to limited visibility is the primary factor cited. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the collision. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801813 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 27 - Two sedans traveling north collided on Avenue U in Brooklyn. The left front quarter panel of one struck the other’s rear right quarter panel. A 30-year-old male driver suffered neck abrasions and was conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 21:51 on Avenue U near Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. Two sedans, both traveling north, collided with impact on the left front quarter panel of one vehicle and the center back end of the other. The driver of the Chevrolet sedan, a 30-year-old male occupant, sustained neck abrasions and was conscious. The report identifies "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the contributing factor, cited twice for the injured driver. Both drivers were licensed, with one holding a Pennsylvania license and the other a New York license. There is no indication of victim fault or contributing pedestrian or cyclist behavior. The collision highlights the dangers of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801720 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 27 - Two drivers suffered contusions and bruises in a high-speed collision on Belt Parkway. Both men were conscious and restrained. Impact struck the left side doors of the truck and front ends of both vehicles. Unsafe speed cited as cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Belt Parkway at 21:28 involving a pick-up truck and a sedan, both traveling eastbound. The pick-up truck was struck on its left side doors, while both vehicles sustained front-end damage. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor to the collision. Both drivers, aged 37 and 54, were conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses. They suffered contusions and bruises to the elbow, lower arm, hand, shoulder, and upper arm, with injury severity rated at level 3. Neither occupant was ejected. The drivers were licensed in New York and were going straight ahead before the crash. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801785 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 25 - Northbound SUV turned left, hit two pedestrians crossing with the signal. Both suffered bruises—one to the head, one to the leg. Driver failed to yield. Brooklyn street, daylight, hard impact.

According to the police report, a 2023 Jeep SUV traveling north on Avenue T made a left turn onto E 3 St in Brooklyn and struck two pedestrians who were crossing with the signal. Both pedestrians—a male and a female—were injured, suffering contusions to the head and lower leg. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the driver. The SUV's left front bumper hit the pedestrians, damaging the vehicle's left front quarter panel. Both victims were conscious at the scene. The driver was licensed and operating legally, but her failure to yield while turning caused the crash and injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801782 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 23 - A 63-year-old woman suffered a severe head injury after an SUV failed to yield at a marked crosswalk on Avenue U. The pedestrian was crossing without signal when the vehicle struck her at unsafe speed, causing a fractured and dislocated injury.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:03 PM on Avenue U in Brooklyn. A 63-year-old female pedestrian was crossing at a marked crosswalk without a crossing signal when she was struck by a northbound SUV. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors on the part of the vehicle driver. The pedestrian sustained a serious head injury described as a fracture and dislocation, with an injury severity level of 3. The SUV impacted the pedestrian at its center front end. A parked sedan was also involved, sustaining damage to its right rear bumper. The report emphasizes driver error in failing to yield and traveling at an unsafe speed, with no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian's behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800710 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 23 - Luis Cruz stepped from his car. An e-bike delivery worker sped through a stop sign. The crash was sudden. Cruz died on the street. The rider stayed. The intersection has seen this before. The system pushes speed. The danger remains.

Gothamist reported on March 23, 2025, that Luis Cruz, 49, died after an e-bike delivery worker "sped through a stop sign" and struck him as he exited his double-parked car in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Witness Jack Collins said, "He died basically on the spot." The e-bike rider remained at the scene. No arrests were made. The article notes this intersection is known for frequent stop sign violations: "It's not a unicorn incident. It's happened a lot." The piece highlights systemic issues, including delivery app pressures and gaps in e-bike regulation. City data shows e-bikes account for less than 2% of traffic deaths, but the policy debate continues. Lawmakers have called for tighter rules, as delivery workers face incentives to rush.

• E-Bike Rider Runs Stop, Kills Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-23

Mar 21 - A 16-year-old driver suffered a concussion after two sedans collided on Oriental Blvd. Police cite driver inexperience and unsafe speed. The teen was left injured but conscious.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed on Oriental Blvd in Brooklyn at 11:48. One car made a left turn while the other traveled straight. The 16-year-old driver of the turning sedan was injured, sustaining a concussion. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The impact struck the left side doors of the teen's car. The injured driver wore a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No victim actions contributed to the crash. The report details the risks when inexperienced drivers travel too fast on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800356 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 18 - Two SUVs crashed on Avenue P in Brooklyn, striking each other’s left side and front center. The 45-year-old male driver suffered a head injury and whiplash. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead at impact, according to the police report.

According to the police report, the crash involved two sport utility vehicles traveling on Avenue P in Brooklyn at 14:46. One SUV, a 2010 Lexus registered in New York, was traveling east and was struck on its left side doors. The other, a 2022 Jeep registered in New Jersey, was traveling south and impacted the Lexus with its center front end. The 45-year-old male driver of the Lexus was injured, sustaining a head injury and whiplash, and remained conscious. Both drivers were licensed and driving straight ahead at the time of the collision. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799681 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 18 - A sedan and bicyclist collided head-on on E 18 St in Brooklyn. The 37-year-old female cyclist was ejected and suffered bruises and arm injuries. The sedan’s left front bumper struck the bike’s center front, causing serious harm.

According to the police report, at 14:20 on E 18 St in Brooklyn, a southbound sedan and a southbound bicycle collided head-on. The sedan, driven by a licensed male driver, impacted the bike at its center front with the sedan’s left front bumper. The bicyclist, a 37-year-old female, was ejected from her bike and sustained contusions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not assign fault to the bicyclist. The collision’s impact and ejection highlight the severity of the crash. Driver errors such as failure to yield or other specific violations are not explicitly cited, but the collision’s nature points to a dangerous interaction between the sedan and the bicycle on the roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801040 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04