Two Dead, Hundreds Hurt—Who Will Stop the Killing on Spring Creek Streets?

Apr 29 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-04-29

Apr 24 - Council bill orders NYPD to check temp plates and VINs. Cops must publish parking enforcement reports. Bill sits in Public Safety. Streets stay risky while data hides in shadows.

Int 1252-2025, now laid over in the Committee on Public Safety, was introduced April 24, 2025. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to police department parking enforcement.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary), Oswald Feliz, Justin L. Brannan, Lincoln Restler, Robert F. Holden, and Chris Banks sponsor the measure. It forces NYPD to verify license plates and VINs on vehicles with temp tags or those ticketed for violations. NYPD must also publish quarterly parking enforcement reports. No safety analyst has assessed the bill's impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 1252-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-24

Apr 24 - Council pushes Albany to force speed limiters on chronic speeders. The move targets reckless drivers. Streets stay deadly while the bill sits in committee. Pedestrians and cyclists wait for action.

Resolution 0854-2025, now laid over in the Committee on Public Safety, urges passage of S.7621/A.7979. The measure calls for 'requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits.' Council Member Lincoln Restler leads, joined by nine co-sponsors including Yusef Salaam and Shahana Hanif. The bill landed in committee on April 24, 2025, with no vote yet. If passed at the state level, it would force repeat speeders to install devices that block speeding. The Council’s action highlights the ongoing risk to vulnerable road users as reckless drivers remain unchecked.

• File Res 0854-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-24

Apr 23 - Taibel Brod crossed with the light. The SUV turned left, struck her. She fell. Two weeks later, she died. The driver had no license. Police charged him. The street stayed open. The city moved on.

NY Daily News reported on April 23, 2025, that Taibel Brod, 101, was killed after an SUV hit her while she crossed Montgomery St. in Crown Heights with the walk signal. The driver, Menachem Shagalow, turned left without a license and struck Brod. Police charged him with aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to exercise due care. The article quotes Brod’s son, who called the crash a "tragedy." Brod died from her injuries nearly two weeks later. The case highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians, especially from unlicensed drivers and left turns at intersections. No changes to the street were reported.

• Unlicensed SUV Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-23

Apr 20 - Two sedans crashed on Pennsylvania Avenue. One driver suffered a head injury. Police cite distraction and unsafe speed. Streets remain dangerous for all.

Two sedans collided at 1340 Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, three people were involved. A 31-year-old male driver suffered a head injury. The other two occupants, a 60-year-old woman and an infant, had unspecified injuries. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807719 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Apr 16 - New research from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets announced a report detailing NYC's top 10 super speeders.

• Road report: Here’s where lead-foot drivers repeatedly get speed-camera tickets in NYC, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-04-16

Apr 10 - Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 10 - Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 10 - 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 but police caught him. The street stayed stained. The system failed to protect.

According to amNY (April 10, 2025), Tyree Epps faces charges after a deadly crash at Van Sinderen and Blake avenues. Epps, unlicensed, "blew a stop sign" and struck a school bus, killing his passenger, Imani Vance, and injuring the bus driver. The article quotes Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez: "The tragic loss of Imani Vance was allegedly caused by the defendant's reckless decision to ignore a stop sign and drive at excessive speeds." Epps left the scene, tried to escape in an Uber, and was arrested after fleeing on foot. The crash was one of three fatal Brooklyn incidents that weekend. City data cited in the article shows ongoing danger: at least 15 killed in Kings County so far this year, with thousands injured, often due to driver inattention and failure to yield. The charges and details highlight persistent risks and enforcement gaps on city streets.

• Brooklyn Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, amny, Published 2025-04-10

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 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 - 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 30 - A sedan making a left turn collided head-on with an SUV traveling straight on Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn. The sedan driver, a 38-year-old man, suffered elbow and arm injuries. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:43 AM on Flatlands Avenue near Van Siclen Avenue in Brooklyn. A 2013 sedan was making a left turn when it collided front-to-front with a 2023 SUV traveling straight north. The sedan driver, a 38-year-old male holding a permit license, was injured with contusions and bruises to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. Both vehicles sustained center front-end damage. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not assign fault to the victim. The collision highlights risks posed by turning vehicles in busy urban corridors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802265 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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 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 26 - A 39-year-old male driver suffered severe whole-body injuries and minor burns in a Belt Parkway crash. The driver was trapped and semiconscious. Police cite unsafe speed as the cause. The SUV’s center front end took the impact.

According to the police report, a crash occurred on Belt Parkway at 8:09 a.m. involving a 2006 Nissan SUV traveling west. The driver, a 39-year-old man, was trapped inside the vehicle and sustained injuries to his entire body, including minor burns. He was semiconscious at the scene. The vehicle’s center front end was damaged by the impact. Police identified unsafe speed as the contributing factor to the collision. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the driver’s behavior beyond unsafe speed, nor does it implicate any other road users. The driver held a valid New York license. This crash underscores the dangers posed by excessive speed on major roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801505 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 24 - SUV rear-ended taxi in Brooklyn. Two women inside taxi hurt. Both suffered whiplash and full-body injuries. SUV driver also injured. Metal twisted. No pedestrians or cyclists involved.

According to the police report, a 2021 Cadillac SUV struck the rear of a 2014 Ford taxi on Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn at 16:13. The taxi, driven by a 53-year-old woman with a 37-year-old female passenger, was hit while both vehicles traveled south. Both taxi occupants were conscious but suffered whiplash and injuries to their entire bodies. The SUV driver, alone in the vehicle, was also injured. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The SUV's center front and the taxi's center rear took the brunt of the impact. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801055 - 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 20 - A 27-year-old male driver sustained a neck injury and whiplash in a crash on Belt Parkway. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The collision involved a 2021 Mazda sedan traveling west, impacting the vehicle’s right front bumper.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:46 on Belt Parkway involving a 2021 Mazda sedan traveling west. The driver, a 27-year-old male occupant, was restrained by a lap belt and harness and remained conscious after the collision. He suffered a neck injury classified as severity level 3 and complained of whiplash. The point of impact was the vehicle’s right front bumper, which also sustained damage. The report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The crash highlights the physical toll on the driver despite restraint use and the absence of clear driver error in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800678 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04