Gravesend Bleeds: Four Dead, Hundreds Hurt, and Still No Safe 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 18 - SUV hit a five-year-old boy in the crosswalk. The child crossed with the signal. Driver failed to yield. The boy suffered a head injury. Bleeding. Shock. Brooklyn pavement stained again.

A five-year-old boy was struck by an SUV while crossing Avenue S at W 3rd Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child was crossing with the signal when the driver, making a right turn, failed to yield. The boy suffered a head injury and minor bleeding, and was in shock. The driver and another occupant were uninjured. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No other factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807074 - 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 12 - A distracted driver hit an 81-year-old man on West 9th Street. The impact bruised his hip and leg. He stayed conscious. The car’s left front bumper struck him. Streets failed to protect the old and slow.

An 81-year-old pedestrian suffered hip and leg bruises after being struck by a vehicle’s left front bumper on West 9th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The man was conscious after the collision. The report lists no other contributing factors from the pedestrian. The vehicle was traveling north and going straight ahead when it hit the man, who was not at an intersection. The system failed to shield a vulnerable road user from a distracted driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805135 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 10 - A BMW SUV pulled from parking. A motorcycle hit its front. The rider, 47, bled from the leg. Distraction ruled the street. Steel cut through helmet. Brooklyn stood silent.

A BMW SUV pulled out from parking near 1770 West 6th Street in Brooklyn. A motorcycle struck its front. The 47-year-old rider suffered severe leg lacerations. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The rider wore a helmet, but it could not prevent injury. The SUV driver was not reported injured. The crash left the street quiet, marked by blood and steel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805636 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 10 - SUV struck motorcycle from behind. Two teens thrown to pavement. Bones broken. Pain sharp. Sirens cut through traffic. The highway keeps moving.

An SUV rear-ended a motorcycle on Belt Parkway, westbound. According to the police report, a Ford SUV struck the motorcycle in the rear. An 18-year-old male driver and a 16-year-old female passenger on the motorcycle were ejected and injured, suffering broken bones and pain. The crash report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The motorcycle driver was unlicensed. Both injured teens had no safety equipment. The SUV driver was licensed and unhurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805543 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 10 - SUV and garbage truck collided on Belt Parkway. Three people hurt, including a toddler. Police cite reaction to another vehicle. Metal twisted. Injuries linger.

An SUV and a garbage truck crashed on Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. Three people were injured: a 44-year-old woman driving the SUV, a 50-year-old male passenger, and a 2-year-old boy. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle.' The report lists this as the primary contributing factor. The SUV was going straight; the truck was turning left. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The injured suffered back pain and whiplash. The toddler was restrained in a child seat. The police report does not mention any other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807053 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 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 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 3 - A sedan blew past traffic control on Avenue P. Two elderly occupants hurt. Metal crumpled. Sirens cut the Brooklyn night.

Two elderly occupants were injured when a sedan disregarded traffic control on Avenue P at Dahill Road in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash involved a BMW sedan traveling west and another vehicle heading north. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the main contributing factor. An 80-year-old woman driving the BMW was injured and in shock. An 84-year-old male occupant suffered unspecified injuries. The data shows driver error—disregard for traffic control—led to the crash. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803416 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 - SUV reversed unsafely on Kings Highway. Sedan struck. Driver injured. Police cite backing error. Streets stay dangerous for all.

A sedan and an SUV collided on Kings Highway in Brooklyn. One driver, a 54-year-old woman, was injured. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Backing Unsafely' by the SUV. The sedan was traveling straight when it struck the SUV's rear. The report lists no other contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and harness. Streets remain hazardous for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802795 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 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 28 - A distracted SUV driver struck a moped making a left turn on Avenue P in Brooklyn. The moped driver, a 16-year-old male, was partially ejected and suffered head injuries. The SUV’s left front bumper bore the impact damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Avenue P in Brooklyn at 11:25. The SUV driver, traveling north and going straight ahead, was cited for driver inattention/distraction. The moped driver, a 16-year-old male, was making a left turn southbound when the collision happened. The impact point was the left front bumper of the SUV and the center front end of the moped. The moped driver was partially ejected from the vehicle and sustained head injuries with abrasions, classified as injury severity 3. The SUV driver was licensed, while the moped driver was unlicensed. No contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior were noted in the report. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction and failure to yield during turning maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802886 - 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 - Albany weighs a payroll tax hike for big NYC employers to plug the MTA’s $35 billion gap. Steve Chan slams the move as a blow to city businesses. Closed-door talks continue. Transit riders wait. Streets stay dangerous. No clear safety gains for walkers or cyclists.

""Democrats need to stop taxing our business community and everyday New Yorkers. It's completely out of touch with today's realities and a slap on the Brooklyn businesses struggling for survival in my district."" -- Steve Chan

State budget negotiations on March 20, 2025, centered on funding for the MTA. Lawmakers discussed raising the payroll mobility tax on large New York City employers. The measure aims to close a $35 billion hole in the MTA’s five-year capital plan, which covers subway and bus upgrades. The bill has no number yet and remains under negotiation. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, 'The discussion on revenue raisers is definitely going to have to be a part of the MTA.' Senator Steve Chan, District 17, criticized the tax hike, calling it 'a slap on the Brooklyn businesses struggling for survival in my district.' The talks also floated surcharges on for-hire vehicles and online deliveries. No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users. The budget deadline looms. Riders and pedestrians see no promised relief.

• Gov. Hochul eyes NYC tax hike to fund MTA in closed-door talks, sources say, gothamist.com, Published 2025-03-20