Dragged to Death: City Lets Kids Bleed for Parking Spots

Council bill orders trees and plants on new medians between bike lanes and car traffic. Concrete gets green. Barriers grow roots. The city must build for life, not speed.

Int 1233-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced April 10, 2025, it demands new medians between bicycle lanes and motor vehicles be built for trees and vegetation, pending feasibility. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to the planting of vegetation on new medians separating bicycle lanes from motorized vehicle traffic.” Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads, joined by Bottcher, Ossé, Brannan, Hanif, and Brooks-Powers. They push the city to plant, or allow planting, in every new median. The law would take effect 120 days after passage. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 1233-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

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

A school bus veered off course in Flatbush. Metal crumpled. A woman and boy fell. The boy’s arm broke. The woman’s neck and hip throbbed. The bus smashed a fence. Sirens wailed. Both survived. The driver stayed. The city’s danger remained.

ABC7 reported on April 9, 2025, that a 66-year-old school bus driver struck a 43-year-old woman and an 8-year-old boy at Bedford Avenue and Farragut Road, Brooklyn. The driver told police he 'hit the gas instead of the brakes, jumped the curb and struck the pedestrians before smashing into a fence.' The woman suffered neck and hip pain; the boy’s arm broke. Both were hospitalized and are expected to survive. No charges were immediately filed. The bus remained at the scene. The article notes the investigation is ongoing. The incident highlights risks at intersections and the consequences of driver error, especially when large vehicles enter pedestrian space.

• School Bus Jumps Curb, Hits Two Pedestrians, ABC7, Published 2025-04-09

A motorbike and sedan crashed on Utica Avenue. One driver suffered arm injuries. Police cite driver inattention for both vehicles. The street saw chaos, metal, and pain.

A crash on Utica Avenue at Sterling Place in Brooklyn involved a BMW motorbike and a Toyota sedan. One driver, a 40-year-old man on the motorbike, was injured in the arm and reported in shock. According to the police report, both drivers were distracted at the time of the collision. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left three other occupants with unspecified injuries. The data shows no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804550 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Mazda turns left on Nostrand. Metal hits flesh. Woman, 24, crossing with signal, falls. Neck bruised. Driver and passenger stay in car. Street silent.

A Mazda sedan turned left at Nostrand Avenue and St Johns Place in Brooklyn. The car struck a 24-year-old woman crossing with the signal. According to the police report, she suffered a neck bruise. The driver and passenger, both 34, remained in the vehicle. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The impact left the pedestrian injured while the occupants were unhurt. No helmet or signal use is cited as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803845 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

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

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 struck an e-bike from behind on Rogers Avenue in Brooklyn. The e-bike driver suffered abrasions and arm injuries. The sedan’s driver followed too closely, causing the collision. Both vehicles were traveling northbound at the time of impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Rogers Avenue near Prospect Place in Brooklyn at 1:33 p.m. A sedan traveling northbound rear-ended an e-bike also heading north. The point of impact was the sedan’s center front end striking the left side doors of the e-bike. The e-bike driver, a 49-year-old man, was injured with abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, and remained conscious. The report explicitly cites 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, repeated twice, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain a safe distance. The sedan sustained damage to its right front quarter panel, while the e-bike showed no damage. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802174 - 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

A sedan slammed its front end on Utica Avenue. The driver, a 62-year-old man, suffered a head contusion. Police cite alcohol involvement. No pedestrians or other vehicles hurt.

According to the police report, a 2013 Nissan sedan traveling south on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn crashed at 21:50. The sedan's center front end was damaged. The 62-year-old male driver, restrained by a lap belt and harness, sustained a head contusion but remained conscious. Police list alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. No pedestrians or other vehicles were reported injured. The report highlights the driver's impairment as the primary cause. No victim fault is indicated. The incident underscores the danger posed by impaired driving.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802133 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A driver making a left turn struck multiple stopped SUVs on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. The impact injured the driver with neck whiplash. Police cite aggressive driving and distraction as key factors in the crash, highlighting dangerous driver behavior.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:31 on Atlantic Avenue near Rochester Avenue in Brooklyn. A sedan traveling north was making a left turn when it collided with several stopped SUVs traveling west. The driver of the sedan, a 43-year-old male occupant, sustained neck injuries classified as whiplash and was conscious at the scene. The report identifies aggressive driving and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The sedan's right side doors were impacted, while the SUVs suffered front-end damage. The police report explicitly cites 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary causes, underscoring driver error as the root of the collision. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801792 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 sedan traveling south struck the rear of an eastbound SUV making a right turn on Schenectady Avenue in Brooklyn. The sedan driver suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver inattention as the cause, with no victim fault noted.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Schenectady Avenue in Brooklyn around 10:00 AM. A sedan traveling south rear-ended a station wagon/SUV that was making a right turn eastbound. The point of impact was the center back end of the sedan and the center front end of the SUV. The sedan driver, a 48-year-old male occupant, was injured with back pain and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The police report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. There is no indication of victim fault or contributing factors related to the SUV driver or other road users. The SUV sustained no damage, highlighting the severity of the sedan driver's error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798606 - 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 sedan turned right on Atlantic Avenue, hitting a moped. The moped’s rear passenger, a 24-year-old woman, suffered knee and leg injuries. Driver inattention and improper turning caused the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan making a right turn on Atlantic Avenue near Rochester Avenue in Brooklyn collided with a moped traveling straight. The crash happened at 9:46 AM. The moped’s rear passenger, a 24-year-old woman, was injured with contusions and bruises to her knee and lower leg. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Turning Improperly" as contributing factors. The moped passenger wore a helmet, but no victim actions contributed to the crash. The sedan driver’s errors led directly to the collision and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797444 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Chrysler sedan slammed into the rear quarter of an oversized vehicle at St Johns Place and Franklin Avenue. The young driver, alone and belted, suffered crushing neck injuries as the front of his car crumpled. He remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 2007 Chrysler sedan traveling south on Franklin Avenue struck the left rear quarter panel of an oversized vehicle at the corner of St Johns Place. The 24-year-old male driver, who was alone and wearing a lap belt and harness, was crushed at the neck but stayed conscious. The report states the front of the sedan folded on impact. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Oversized Vehicle' as contributing factors. The collision resulted in severe crush injuries to the driver. The report does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the dangers posed by oversized vehicles and driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796372 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04