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

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 2025-09-19

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 red-light runner tore through Ocean Parkway. The Audi slammed an Uber, then plowed into a family in the crosswalk. A mother and her two daughters died. Survivors watched, hurt and helpless, as medics tried to save the fallen.

According to the NY Daily News (April 1, 2025), a crash on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn left a mother and her two daughters dead after a speeding Audi, driven by Miriam Yarimi, struck an Uber and then pedestrians in a crosswalk. Police said Yarimi was driving about 50 mph in a 25 mph zone and ran a red light with a suspended license. She was charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, assault, reckless driving, and other offenses. The article quotes survivor Shakhzod Ahmedova: "After the car crash, we just saw the car flipped over and two kids on the ground. We were scared." The incident highlights the lethal consequences of unlicensed, reckless driving and raises questions about enforcement and street design on major corridors like Ocean Parkway.

• Speeding Audi Kills Mother, Two Children, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-01

Mar 31 - A speeding Audi struck a mother and her daughters in a Brooklyn crosswalk. The crash killed three. The youngest son was left fighting for life. The driver, with a long record of violations, now faces manslaughter charges.

According to the New York Post (March 31, 2025), Miriam Yarimi drove her Audi through a Brooklyn crosswalk, killing Natasha Saada and her daughters, Diana and Debra. Saada’s 4-year-old son was critically injured. Police said the victims were 'legally crossing the street in a crosswalk when the driver's speeding Audi struck them.' Yarimi’s car had over 93 traffic violations. She told first responders she was 'possessed' and is undergoing psychiatric evaluation. The article notes Yarimi’s history of paranoid social media posts and erratic behavior. She has been charged with manslaughter. The crash highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians and raises questions about enforcement against repeat traffic offenders.

• 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 2025-09-19

Mar 30 - A driver sped down Ocean Parkway, slammed into a Camry, then struck a mother and her three children in the crosswalk. Three died. The youngest clings to life. The Audi’s driver had a suspended license. The street ran red with grief.

ABC7 reported on March 30, 2025, that a multi-vehicle crash on Ocean Parkway in Midwood killed Natasha Saada and her daughters, ages 5 and 8, and critically injured her 4-year-old son. The article states, "A driver has been charged after a multi-vehicle crash in Brooklyn killed a mother and her two young daughters and critically injured her son." Police say Miriam Yarimi, driving an Audi with a suspended license, rear-ended a Toyota Camry and then struck the family in the crosswalk. Yarimi faces charges including manslaughter, reckless driving, and failing to yield. The Camry was an Uber with children inside, who were also hurt. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called it "a horrific tragedy caused by someone who shouldn't have been on the road." The crash highlights the lethal risk posed by unlicensed, reckless drivers and the vulnerability of families crossing city streets.

• Mother And Daughters Killed On Ocean Parkway, ABC7, Published 2025-03-30

Mar 29 - A car struck a mother and her two daughters in a Brooklyn crosswalk. All three died. A young boy fights for life. The driver’s license was suspended. The Audi hit another car, then pedestrians. Ocean Parkway’s danger is no secret.

According to ABC7 (published March 29, 2025), a 34-year-old woman and her two daughters, ages six and eight, were killed when an Audi, driven by Mariam Yarimi on a suspended license, rear-ended a Toyota Camry and then struck the family in a crosswalk on Ocean Parkway. A four-year-old boy remains in critical condition. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch called it 'a horrific tragedy caused by someone who shouldn't have been on the road.' The Audi went airborne after the collision. Residents described chronic speeding and red-light running on Ocean Parkway. Authorities are investigating whether speed or a red light violation contributed. No arrests have been made. The crash highlights persistent systemic dangers for pedestrians on city streets.

• Mother And Children Killed On Ocean Parkway, 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 2025-09-19

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 2025-09-19

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 2025-09-19

Mar 20 - Two sport utility vehicles collided on Belt Parkway, both traveling east. The female driver of one SUV suffered a head injury and whiplash. Both vehicles were slowing or stopping when the crash occurred, impacting left rear and right front bumpers.

According to the police report, two SUVs traveling east on Belt Parkway collided at 10:17 a.m. The female driver of a 2024 Lexus SUV was injured, sustaining a head injury and whiplash. She was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. Both vehicles were slowing or stopping before the collision, which involved impact to the left rear bumper of one vehicle and the right front bumper of the other. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash resulted in injury to the driver of one vehicle, highlighting the dangers even in slowing traffic conditions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800022 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 20 - A 36-year-old woman driving east on Seaview Ave crashed her sedan into a parked tractor truck. She suffered a serious head injury and was trapped unconscious in her vehicle. Police cited driver inattention as the cause of the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5:30 AM on Seaview Ave in Brooklyn. The driver, a 36-year-old woman, was operating a 2007 Nissan sedan traveling east when she collided with a parked 2019 tractor truck. The point of impact was the sedan’s center front end against the truck’s left rear bumper. The driver was trapped inside the vehicle, unconscious, and sustained a head injury resulting in a concussion. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving, even when other vehicles are stationary.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803165 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 15 - A sedan slammed its front end on Belt Parkway. The driver and a passenger, both unrestrained, suffered neck and back injuries. Shock and whiplash followed. No driver errors listed. The road left them hurt.

According to the police report, a 2017 Honda sedan traveling west on Belt Parkway crashed, damaging its left front bumper and center front end. The 27-year-old male driver and a 57-year-old female passenger were both injured, suffering neck and back trauma, whiplash, and shock. Both were unrestrained at the time. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The crash happened at 10:30 p.m. The report focuses on the impact and the injuries to the vehicle occupants, with no identified cause or fault.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799473 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19