Gravesend Bleeds: Four Dead, Hundreds Hurt, and Still No Safe Streets

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 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 2025-11-04

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 - 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

Mar 18 - A bicyclist was ejected and injured after colliding with a parked SUV on Bay Parkway in Brooklyn. The driver’s inattention caused the crash, leaving the cyclist with abrasions and upper arm injuries. The SUV showed no damage from the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Bay Parkway in Brooklyn at 16:23. A 30-year-old male bicyclist traveling south collided with a parked 2015 SUV. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver’s failure to maintain awareness. The bicyclist was ejected from his bike and sustained abrasions and upper arm injuries, classified as injury severity level 3. The SUV showed no damage, suggesting the impact was primarily against the bicyclist. The bicyclist was not wearing safety equipment, but no contributing factor was assigned to his behavior. The crash highlights the danger posed by distracted drivers even when vehicles are stationary.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799785 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 12 - A moped driver suffered severe leg injuries after a collision with a sedan making a left turn on 24 Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash involved failure to yield and unsafe speed, highlighting critical driver errors in a busy intersection.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:45 AM on 24 Avenue in Brooklyn. The moped, traveling south with two occupants, was struck by a northbound sedan making a left turn. The moped driver, a 24-year-old male, was injured with fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors, emphasizing driver errors by the moped operator. Notably, the moped driver was unlicensed but wearing a helmet. The sedan driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The impact occurred at the center front end of the moped and the right front quarter panel of the sedan. This collision underscores the dangers posed by unlicensed operation and failure to yield in Brooklyn's traffic environment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798102 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 12 - Council bill orders signs at every speed camera. Drivers will see warnings from all directions. Law aims for full sign coverage within a year. No mention of direct safety gains for people on foot or bike.

Int 1218-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced March 12, 2025, by Council Members Chris Banks (primary), Susan Zhuang, and Frank Morano. The bill reads: 'requiring the installation of signs indicating the presence of every speed camera.' If passed, the city must install signs near each speed camera, visible from all approaches, within a year. The bill was referred to committee on the day of introduction. There is no analyst note on its impact for vulnerable road users. The measure focuses on driver awareness, not direct protection for pedestrians or cyclists.

• File Int 1218-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-03-12

Mar 9 - Two SUVs smashed on Shore Parkway. Alcohol played a role. A woman driver suffered head trauma and whiplash. She was semiconscious. Both vehicles took heavy bumper damage. Systemic risk and driver error collided.

According to the police report, two SUVs crashed on Shore Parkway near Bay 38 Street. Both vehicles traveled west. The 2016 Jeep SUV struck the left rear bumper of a 2024 Honda SUV. The female Jeep driver, age 29, suffered head injuries and whiplash. She was semiconscious at the scene, restrained by a lap belt, and not ejected. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor, highlighting impaired driving. Both drivers held valid licenses. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No victim actions contributed to the crash. The impact left both vehicles with significant bumper damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797242 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 8 - An SUV parked on 86th Street in Brooklyn struck by a northbound vehicle caused head injuries to the front passenger. Alcohol involvement by the driver contributed to the crash, leaving the passenger in shock with minor bleeding and serious head trauma.

According to the police report, a 2008 Dodge SUV was involved in a crash on 86th Street near Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn at 1:45 AM. The vehicle was initially parked before impact occurred at the left front bumper and center front end. The front passenger, a 40-year-old male, sustained head injuries with minor bleeding and was in shock. The report explicitly cites 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating driver impairment. The passenger was restrained with a lap belt and was not ejected. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were noted. The crash highlights the systemic danger posed by impaired driving in Brooklyn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797206 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 8 - 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

Mar 4 - Two sedans collided head-on on Belt Parkway late at night. A 34-year-old male driver suffered a concussion and head injury. Police cited aggressive driving and passing too closely as contributing factors. The crash left one occupant injured but conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 23:01 on Belt Parkway involving multiple sedans traveling east. The driver of a 2023 McLaren Artura sustained a head injury and concussion, classified as injury severity 3, while remaining conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report explicitly identifies 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors to the collision. Both vehicles involved had center front-end damage, indicating a direct impact. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors, focusing solely on driver errors. The injured party was not ejected and was the sole occupant of his vehicle. This crash underscores the dangers posed by aggressive driving behaviors on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796695 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 3 - A dump truck turned right on Withers Street. It struck a man crouched in the road. The driver fled. The man died at Elmhurst Hospital. Police are still investigating. Brooklyn’s streets claim more lives. The toll grows.

Gothamist reported on March 3, 2025, that a dump truck driver fatally struck a man in his 20s on Withers Street near Woodpoint Road in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The man was 'crouched in the street to pick up food' when the northbound truck turned right and hit him, according to NYPD officials. The driver, a 49-year-old man, left the scene. No arrests have been made. The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. The article notes this crash followed two other recent fatal collisions in Brooklyn. The incident underscores persistent dangers for pedestrians and ongoing issues with drivers leaving crash scenes. NYPD data shows at least 10 traffic deaths in Brooklyn so far this year, matching last year’s pace.

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

Mar 2 - 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

Mar 1 - 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

Feb 28 - A drunk driver blasted through a red light at 72 mph. He struck Katherine Harris, killing her steps from home. The car crashed on. Blood alcohol twice the limit. The street became a crime scene. Lives shattered in seconds.

NY Daily News reported on February 28, 2025, that Erick Trujillo, 29, was sentenced to three to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. On April 16, 2023, Trujillo drove his Volvo at 72 mph—nearly triple the speed limit—through a red light at Atlantic Ave and Clinton Street in Brooklyn. He struck pedestrian Katherine Harris, 31, killing her instantly, then rear-ended another car and crashed into an outdoor dining shed. Trujillo's blood alcohol level was .17, more than twice the legal limit. The article quotes Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez: "This defendant made a disastrous decision when he got behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated." The case highlights the lethal consequences of impaired driving and excessive speed, underscoring systemic risks for pedestrians in New York City.

• Drunk Driver Speeds, Kills Pedestrian in Brooklyn, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-28

Feb 27 - Two sedans traveling straight collided at Bay Parkway in Brooklyn. The impact struck the right front areas of both vehicles. Both drivers and passengers sustained injuries including fractures and abrasions. Airbags deployed and seat belts were in use.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling straight ahead collided on Bay Parkway near Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn at 3:07 PM. The point of impact was the right front bumper of one sedan and the right front quarter panel of the other. Both vehicles were occupied by male drivers and passengers. The driver of the 2020 Ford sedan was conscious with head abrasions; his airbag deployed and he wore a lap belt and harness. The front passenger in the same vehicle suffered a fracture and dislocation to the elbow, lower arm, and hand, secured by a lap belt and harness. The report does not list specific driver errors or contributing factors, only unspecified factors for the passenger. The collision caused significant vehicle damage and multiple injuries without ejections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795294 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 26 - A sedan executing a U-turn struck a moped rider traveling straight on Bath Avenue in Brooklyn. The moped driver, helmeted and conscious, suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as the primary cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:40 on Bath Avenue in Brooklyn. A sedan, traveling east and making a U-turn, collided with a moped traveling westbound. The point of impact was the sedan's left front bumper and the moped's center front end. The moped driver, a 27-year-old male occupant riding with a helmet, was injured with contusions and upper arm and shoulder injuries but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor attributed to the sedan driver. The sedan driver was licensed and operating the vehicle during the maneuver. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. Vehicle damage was consistent with the described impact points.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795136 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 18 - A moped traveling north struck an e-scooter making a left turn southbound on Avenue P in Brooklyn. The e-scooter driver suffered a fractured elbow and hand injuries. Police cited driver inexperience and distraction as key factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:50 on Avenue P in Brooklyn. A moped traveling straight north collided head-on with an e-scooter making a left turn southbound. The e-scooter driver, a 35-year-old male, sustained serious injuries including a fractured and dislocated elbow and lower arm. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors to the collision. Both vehicles sustained damage to their center front ends. The e-scooter driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report does not indicate any victim fault or helmet use. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver errors in managing complex interactions between motorized personal vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793951 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 18 - SUV turned left at speed, struck cyclist riding straight. Cyclist hit, left bruised and battered in Brooklyn. Police cite unsafe speed. Impact tore into bike’s front, SUV’s side. System failed the vulnerable.

According to the police report, an SUV making a left turn collided with a southbound bicyclist near 1821 W 4 St in Brooklyn at 14:01. The SUV’s left side doors struck the bike’s front end. The cyclist, a 30-year-old man, suffered contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. No cyclist errors were cited. The crash underscores driver error—unsafe speed during a left turn—leading to serious injury for a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793468 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04