No More Widows for Van Buren: Lower the Speed, Save a Life

A speeding driver with a suspended license ran a red light in Brooklyn. Her car struck a mother and two young children. All three died. The driver faced manslaughter charges. The street bore the weight of loss and metal.

NY Daily News (April 6, 2025) reports that Miriam Yarimi, driving with a suspended license for lapsed insurance, sped through a red light in Brooklyn on March 29. Her Audi struck a family, killing a mother and two small children. Police said Yarimi was 'reportedly speeding, ran a red light, and struck the family.' Prosecutors allege she told first responders she was possessed at the time. The article details Yarimi’s history as a victim of sexual abuse by a former NYPD officer, but the crash itself highlights systemic failures: a suspended license, unchecked speed, and a fatal intersection. The incident underscores persistent dangers for pedestrians and families on New York City streets.

• Brooklyn Crash Kills Mother, Two Children, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-06

A mother and two daughters died on Ocean Parkway. The car struck them in the crosswalk. The driver sped, license suspended, dozens of violations. A son clings to life. The street holds the mark. Lawmakers call for speed limiters.

CBS New York (2025-04-02) reports that Miriam Yarimi faces arraignment after a crash in Midwood, Brooklyn killed Natasha Saada and her daughters, ages 8 and 5, as they crossed Ocean Parkway. Police say Yarimi was speeding, rear-ended another car, and hit the family in the crosswalk. Her license was suspended, with 'dozens of violations and $10,000 of unpaid fines.' NYPD Commissioner Tisch stated, 'This was a horrific tragedy caused by someone who shouldn't have been on the road.' The crash renewed calls for Albany lawmakers to mandate speed-limiting devices for repeat offenders, with a bill proposed to require such technology for drivers with more than six camera violations.

• Speeding Driver Kills Brooklyn Family Crossing, CBS New York, Published 2025-04-02

A driver sped through a red light on Ocean Parkway. She struck an Uber, flipped, then hit a mother and her three children in the crosswalk. The mother and two daughters died. The lone surviving son remains in critical condition.

According to the New York Post (2025-04-01), Miriam Yarimi drove her Audi at 50 mph—twice the speed limit—without a license, insurance, or registration. She ran a red light at Quentin Road and Ocean Parkway, striking an Uber and then a family lawfully crossing. Natasha Saada, 32, and her daughters Diana, 8, and Debra, 5, were killed. Only Saada’s son survived, hospitalized in critical condition. The article quotes survivor Mahbuba Ahmedova: “When I opened my eyes, I saw two kids were killed, and I thought they were my kids.” Yarimi faces three counts of manslaughter. The crash exposes the lethal risk of unchecked speeding and unlicensed driving on city streets.

• Speeding Driver Kills Brooklyn Family Crossing, New York Post, Published 2025-04-01

A driver ran a red light on Ocean Parkway. She struck a mother and three children in the crosswalk. The mother and two daughters died. The youngest boy fights for life. Charges include manslaughter and reckless driving. Systemic failures linger.

NY Daily News reported on March 31, 2025, that Miriam Yarimi faces charges after fatally striking Natasha Saada and her three children in a Brooklyn crosswalk. Police say Yarimi 'careened into them' at Ocean Parkway and Quentin Road, running a red light and speeding. The mother and two daughters, ages 5 and 8, died at the hospital. The 4-year-old son remains in critical condition. Yarimi faces counts of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, reckless driving, and aggravated unlicensed driving. The article notes Yarimi's prior legal battles with the city and her involuntary psychiatric commitment after the crash. The case highlights ongoing risks at city intersections and the deadly consequences when drivers ignore signals and speed limits.

• Brooklyn Mother, Children Killed in Crosswalk Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-31

A mother and her two daughters died on Ocean Parkway. The driver, on a suspended license, crashed after colliding with another car. She had a long record of violations. The victims were leaving Shabbat services. Streets remain unforgiving.

According to the New York Post (March 30, 2025), Miriam Yarimi, 32, drove her Audi with a suspended license on Ocean Parkway in Gravesend. She collided with a Toyota Camry, then struck and killed a mother and her two daughters, ages 8 and 6, as they left Shabbat services. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed Yarimi's license status. The article reports Yarimi had 'over 93 traffic violations on WIGM8KER including 20 speeding tickets,' and a recent ticket for 'speeding through a school zone.' Yarimi was arrested at the scene, but charges were pending at publication. The case highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians and repeated failures to keep high-risk drivers off city streets.

• Suspended Driver Kills Family On Parkway, New York Post, Published 2025-03-30

A sedan and an SUV collided head-on on Ralph Avenue in Brooklyn. Four occupants suffered moderate injuries including bruises, abrasions, and back pain. Both drivers were licensed men traveling straight when impact occurred at their left front bumpers.

According to the police report, the crash involved a 2019 Ford sedan traveling south and a 2024 Acura SUV traveling west on Ralph Avenue in Brooklyn. Both vehicles struck each other at their left front bumpers while going straight ahead. The collision injured four occupants: the sedan driver, a 31-year-old man with hip and upper leg contusions; the SUV driver, a 21-year-old man with elbow abrasions; and two passengers, a 21-year-old woman experiencing back pain and shock, and a 30-year-old man with knee bruises. All occupants were conscious except one in shock and none were ejected. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify specific driver errors such as failure to yield. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801971 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An Audi driver with a suspended license turned at a red. She struck a family crossing Ocean Parkway. A mother and two daughters died. Their son fights for life. Another family in a hit car suffered minor wounds. Streets remain unforgiving.

Gothamist reported on March 29, 2025, that a mother and her two daughters were killed when an Audi A3, driven by Miriam Yarimi, turned right on red and struck them in Midwood, Brooklyn. Police said Yarimi’s license was suspended. The car first hit a Toyota Camry, then continued forward, hitting the family in the crosswalk. The article quotes NYPD Commissioner Tisch: 'This was a horrific tragedy caused by someone who shouldn't have been on the road.' Yarimi faces multiple charges, including manslaughter and aggravated unlicensed operation. The crash left a young boy in critical condition and injured another family. The incident highlights the dangers of unlicensed driving and the risks at busy intersections.

• Suspended Driver Kills Brooklyn Family, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-29

Luis Cruz stepped from his car. An e-bike delivery worker flew through a stop sign. The crash was sudden. Cruz died on the street. The rider stayed. The intersection is known for danger. Delivery speed and city policy collide.

Gothamist reported on March 23, 2025, that Luis Cruz, 49, died after being struck by an e-bike delivery worker who "sped through a stop sign" at Franklin and India streets 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 as the investigation continued. The article notes that the intersection is a known trouble spot, with Collins stating, "It's not a unicorn incident. It's happened a lot." The report highlights systemic issues: delivery app pressures, lack of regulation, and a street design that encourages risky moves. City data shows e-bikes account for a small share of traffic deaths, but the policy debate continues.

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

A taxi turning left on Stuyvesant struck an 81-year-old woman in a marked crosswalk. She suffered broken bones. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield. The impact was violent. The woman remained conscious.

According to the police report, at 10:45 AM on Stuyvesant Avenue near Chauncey Street in Brooklyn, a taxi making a left turn struck an 81-year-old woman crossing in a marked crosswalk. She suffered fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The point of impact was the taxi's right front quarter panel. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No victim actions contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800876 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Motorscooter hit a parked SUV in Brooklyn. Rider suffered arm injuries and abrasions. Police cite driver inattention and improper lane use. Metal twisted. Danger lingered on the curb.

According to the police report, a motorscooter traveling west on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn struck a parked SUV at 9:05 AM. The 22-year-old scooter driver suffered upper arm injuries and abrasions but remained conscious and was not ejected. Police listed "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as contributing factors. The parked SUV was hit on its left side doors, while the scooter took damage to its center front end. No victim actions were cited as contributing factors. The crash underscores the risk posed by driver inattention and improper lane use around stationary vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800461 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Four people hurt in a chain-reaction crash on Fulton Street. Sedans and SUVs slammed together. Alcohol played a role. Drivers and passengers suffered shock, whiplash, and pain. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, a multi-vehicle crash struck Fulton Street near Malcolm X Boulevard at 12:48 a.m. Four occupants—drivers and passengers—were injured. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. Vehicles, including sedans and SUVs, were stopped or moving westbound when struck from behind, causing center back-end damage. Injuries included whiplash, head abrasions, and whole-body pain. The police report cites alcohol involvement as the primary driver error. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash underscores the risk of impaired driving and the violence of rear-end impacts in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799783 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 29-year-old woman suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a pick-up truck hit her at a Brooklyn intersection. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian on its right front quarter panel. The victim was conscious and sustained contusions and bruises.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2024 Chevrolet pick-up truck traveling west on Broadway struck her at the intersection with Marcus Garvey Blvd in Brooklyn. The point of impact was the truck's right front quarter panel. The pedestrian was located at the intersection at the time of the collision and suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, including contusions and bruises. She remained conscious after the crash. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian but does not identify any driver errors or violations such as failure to yield or speeding. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. Vehicle damage was limited to the right front quarter panel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798836 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A driver out on bail smashed into a Toyota in Bushwick. The crash killed Hayden Wallace and injured three others. The driver fled, leaving chaos behind. Police tracked him for over a year. Charges stack up, but the loss remains.

NY Daily News (March 8, 2025) reports that Christopher Seabrook, 28, was arrested after a deadly hit-and-run in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Seabrook had been out on bail for a previous crash involving police. On January 8, 2024, he crashed into a Toyota, killing Hayden Wallace and injuring three others. Seabrook fled the scene, abandoning his vehicle. The article notes, "All accidents are useless but this one was even more useless because [Seabrook] had so many other offenses." Seabrook faces 23 charges, including manslaughter, leaving the scene, unlicensed driving, and speeding. The case highlights repeated driver offenses and questions about bail and enforcement. Police needed over a year to arrest Seabrook, who had a history of fleeing crashes and driving without a license.

• Repeat Offender Kills Passenger In Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-08

A dump truck turned right on Withers Street. The driver hit a man crouched for food. The man died at Elmhurst Hospital. The driver fled. Police are still searching. Brooklyn’s streets remain deadly for those on foot.

Gothamist reported on March 3, 2025, that a dump truck driver fatally struck a man in his 20s on Withers Street near Woodpoint Road, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The man was kneeling in the street to pick up food when the truck, turning right, hit him. According to police, 'the driver, a 49-year-old man, left the scene.' The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. No arrests have been made. The article notes this was one of several fatal crashes in Brooklyn that week, highlighting persistent dangers for pedestrians. NYPD data shows at least 10 traffic deaths in Brooklyn so far this year, matching last year’s pace. The driver’s failure to remain at the scene underscores ongoing issues with hit-and-runs and enforcement.

• Dump Truck Kills Pedestrian in Williamsburg, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-03

A man sped through a stop sign in Brownsville. His Mercedes hit a school bus. His passenger died. He ran from the wreck in a taxi. Police found him later. The victim’s family mourns. The street remains unchanged.

NY Daily News reported on March 2, 2025, that Tyree Epps, 32, drove a Mercedes-Benz without a license, ran a stop sign on Van Sinderen Ave, and crashed into a school bus. The article states, “After the crash, Epps hopped in a taxi and took off, leaving his 26-year-old passenger, Imani Vance, in the front seat suffering severe head trauma.” Epps faces charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene, and unlicensed driving. The bus driver survived. The crash exposes ongoing risks from unlicensed, reckless drivers and the persistent danger at city intersections. The victim’s family is left to grieve and organize a funeral, while the intersection remains a site of loss.

• Unlicensed Driver Flees Fatal Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-02

A 26-year-old man crossing Greene Ave with the signal was struck by an SUV turning left in Brooklyn. The pedestrian suffered bruises and hip injuries. Police cited the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the primary cause of the crash.

According to the police report, at 21:20 on Greene Ave near Malcolm X Blvd in Brooklyn, a 26-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal was struck by a 2022 Hyundai SUV traveling east and making a left turn. The vehicle hit the pedestrian at the center front end, causing contusions and injuries to his hip and upper leg, classified as injury severity level 3. The report explicitly identifies the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing factor. While pedestrian confusion is noted, it is secondary to the driver’s error. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. This collision underscores the dangers posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians legally crossing intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797191 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Kia slammed into a Toyota on Stockholm Street. Hayden Wallace, 29, died. Two friends survived with critical wounds. The driver fled. Police arrested Christopher Seabrook. The crash left a new life cut short, a city shaken.

According to the NY Daily News (published March 1, 2025), Christopher Seabrook, 28, was arrested for the hit-and-run crash that killed Hayden Wallace, 29, in Bushwick on January 8, 2024. Seabrook allegedly crashed a Kia Sportage into a Toyota Yaris carrying Wallace and friends, then fled the scene on foot. Wallace died; two others were critically injured. The Toyota’s driver was also charged with driving without a license. Seabrook faces charges including manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and leaving the scene. The article quotes Wallace’s aunt: “He lived life to the fullest. He was only 29 years old and lit up every room he entered.” The case highlights the deadly consequences of reckless driving and fleeing crash scenes in New York City.

• Bushwick Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-01

Two SUVs slammed together on Howard Avenue in Brooklyn. A passenger in the back seat took a neck injury. Police blame driver inattention. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided head-on at 8:10 AM on Howard Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash injured a 35-year-old male passenger seated in the right rear of one SUV. He suffered a neck injury, described as whiplash, but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. Both vehicles sustained heavy front-end damage. The crash highlights the risk posed by distracted drivers on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797086 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 33-year-old man crossing outside a crosswalk in Brooklyn was struck by a southbound sedan. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, leaving the pedestrian with bruises and lower leg injuries. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Ralph Avenue in Brooklyn struck a 33-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing outside a crosswalk. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and remained conscious after the collision. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle’s point of impact was the left front bumper, yet the sedan sustained no damage. The pedestrian was not at an intersection or crosswalk at the time, but the report does not list any contributing factors related to his actions. This crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving, which directly caused harm to a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797298 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two women suffered back injuries and shock in a multi-sedan collision on Fulton Street in Brooklyn. Both were restrained by lap belts and harnesses. The crash involved three sedans traveling westbound, with impact centered on rear and front ends.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Fulton Street in Brooklyn involving three sedans all traveling westbound. The vehicles collided with impacts centered on the center back end and center front end of the cars. Two female occupants were injured: a 52-year-old driver and a 66-year-old front passenger. Both suffered back injuries and were in shock, reporting pain or nausea. Both were restrained by lap belts and harnesses. The report lists contributing factors for the injured driver as 'Unspecified,' with no explicit driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding noted. The collision appears to be a chain reaction or multi-vehicle impact, but no pedestrian or cyclist was involved or cited. The focus remains on the vehicle collision dynamics and occupant injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795536 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04