Assembly Member Novakhov stood at a funeral for a mother and two children killed by a speeder. He spoke against a bill to fit repeat speeders’ cars with limiters. He called enforcement excessive. Mourners demanded action. The street remains deadly.

On March 31, 2025, Assembly Member Michael Novakhov publicly opposed a state bill requiring speed-limiting devices for cars owned by repeat speeders. The statement came at the funeral for Natasha Saada and her children, killed by a speeding driver on Ocean Parkway. Novakhov argued, 'six red-light or speed violations in one year [is] too little,' and claimed, 'any driver can get much more than six.' He also denounced speed cameras, saying, 'we have too many,' and that they punish regular drivers. The bill’s matter summary centers on requiring devices for vehicles with six violations in a year. Community members and advocates at the funeral demanded stronger accountability and cited the area’s deadly history. Other local politicians, including Kalman Yeger and Simcha Felder, have also opposed speed safety measures. The Department of Transportation has not recommended major changes to Ocean Parkway, despite ongoing danger.

• Local Pol Novakhov Appears to Defends Reckless Driving at Funeral of Mother and Two Kids Killed by Speeder, Streetsblog NYC, 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

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

SUV hit dump truck’s rear in Brooklyn. Young driver’s shoulder shattered. Both vehicles moved straight. Metal twisted. No pedestrians or cyclists hurt. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, an SUV traveling east collided with a westbound dump truck near 1069 60th Street in Brooklyn at 13:04. The SUV’s left front quarter panel struck the center back end of the dump truck. The 23-year-old male SUV driver suffered a fractured and dislocated shoulder and upper arm. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left the SUV’s front and the truck’s rear damaged, underscoring the hazards of vehicle-on-vehicle impact even when both drivers move straight.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800973 - 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

An unlicensed driver made a left turn in Brooklyn, striking an 8-year-old boy crossing outside a crosswalk. The boy suffered a fractured lower leg and foot, conscious but seriously injured. The SUV’s front center bore the impact of the collision.

According to the police report, a female driver operating a 2023 Chevrolet SUV without a valid license made a left turn traveling west near 4304 17th Avenue in Brooklyn. The vehicle’s center front end struck an 8-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing the street outside a crosswalk and without a crossing signal. The boy sustained serious injuries including fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was conscious at the scene. The report identifies the driver’s unlicensed status and the left turn maneuver as critical factors leading to the collision. No contributing factors were assigned to the pedestrian. The vehicle damage was concentrated at the center front end, confirming the point of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797975 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An SUV traveling north collided with an e-bike heading west on 39th Street near 15th Avenue. The e-bike rider, a 30-year-old man, suffered serious lower leg injuries and was rendered unconscious. The SUV sustained front-end damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:48 on 39th Street in Brooklyn. A 2025 SUV traveling north struck an e-bike moving west. The point of impact was the SUV's right front bumper and the e-bike's left front quarter panel. The e-bike rider, a 30-year-old man, was injured with trauma to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was found unconscious with a complaint of pain or nausea. The SUV driver was licensed and driving straight ahead. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the e-bike rider but does not specify driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The collision caused center front end damage to the SUV and left side door damage to the e-bike. No helmet use or victim behavior was cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797397 - 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 12-year-old boy suffered a severe leg fracture after a pick-up truck struck him while he crossed with the signal on 14 Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver was making a right turn, hitting the pedestrian with the truck’s right front bumper.

According to the police report, a 12-year-old male pedestrian was injured at an intersection on 14 Avenue in Brooklyn at 7:15 p.m. The boy was crossing with the signal when a 2022 Ford pick-up truck, traveling east and making a right turn, struck him with the right front bumper. The pedestrian sustained a fracture and dislocation to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3. The report notes no damage to the vehicle and no occupants inside. While the report does not specify driver errors explicitly, the collision occurred during the driver’s right turn, indicating a failure to yield to a pedestrian crossing with the signal. The pedestrian’s actions were not cited as contributing factors. This incident highlights the dangers posed by turning vehicles to pedestrians legally crossing intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797120 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A dump truck turned right on Withers Street. The driver hit a man crouched for food. The man died at Elmhurst Hospital. The driver fled. Police are still searching. Brooklyn’s streets remain deadly for those on foot.

Gothamist reported on March 3, 2025, that a dump truck driver fatally struck a man in his 20s on Withers Street near Woodpoint Road, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The man was kneeling in the street to pick up food when the truck, turning right, hit him. According to police, 'the driver, a 49-year-old man, left the scene.' The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. No arrests have been made. The article notes this was one of several fatal crashes in Brooklyn that week, highlighting persistent dangers for pedestrians. NYPD data shows at least 10 traffic deaths in Brooklyn so far this year, matching last year’s pace. The driver’s failure to remain at the scene underscores ongoing issues with hit-and-runs and enforcement.

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

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

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

An 89-year-old woman suffered chest injuries after an SUV made a left turn and struck her at a Brooklyn intersection. The impact damaged the vehicle's front center. The pedestrian was conscious with contusions, according to the police report.

According to the police report, a Station Wagon/Sport Utility Vehicle traveling southeast on Fort Hamilton Parkway was making a left turn when it struck an 89-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection. The collision caused center front end damage to the SUV. The pedestrian sustained chest injuries classified as contusions and bruises, with an injury severity level of 3, and remained conscious after the impact. The report lists the pedestrian's contributing factors as unspecified, with no driver contributing factors explicitly noted. The driver’s action of making a left turn led to the collision, highlighting the systemic dangers posed by turning vehicles to pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793518 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW X5 veered off Belt Parkway near Exit 14. The SUV struck a tree. Marcus Joseph, 41, died at the scene. No passengers. No bystanders hurt. The crash left only silence and wreckage on the Brooklyn road.

NY Daily News (2025-02-18) reports Marcus Joseph, 41, died after his BMW X5 spun out of control on the Belt Parkway near Exit 14 in Starrett City, Brooklyn. Police said the SUV 'skidded off the road and slammed into a tree.' Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The article does not mention weather or road conditions. The incident highlights the dangers of high-speed corridors like the Belt Parkway, where loss of control can prove fatal. No charges were filed. The report underscores the persistent risks for all road users on New York City highways.

• BMW Skids, Slams Tree On Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-18

A 43-year-old woman suffered abrasions and arm injuries after a sedan struck her at a Brooklyn intersection. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, hitting her with the vehicle’s center front end. The pedestrian was conscious and injured at the scene.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old female pedestrian was injured in a collision with a 2023 Toyota sedan traveling westbound on 61 Street near 11 Avenue in Brooklyn. The report cites "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the primary contributing factor by the sedan driver, who was licensed and driving straight ahead. The impact occurred at the vehicle's center front end, injuring the pedestrian's elbow, lower arm, and hand, resulting in abrasions. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene and located at the intersection. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian's behavior were noted in the report. The driver’s failure to yield created a hazardous situation that led to the pedestrian’s injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792626 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 13-year-old boy suffered knee and lower leg injuries after being struck by an eastbound SUV at a Brooklyn intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal. The SUV showed no damage, indicating a low-speed impact but serious harm to the child.

According to the police report, a 13-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 16 Avenue and 59 Street in Brooklyn at 18:18. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when he was struck by a 2017 Toyota SUV traveling eastbound, which was going straight ahead. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in injury severity level 3 and shock. The vehicle sustained no damage, suggesting a low-speed collision. The report does not list any driver contributing factors or violations such as failure to yield. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal was noted but not cited as a contributing factor. The incident highlights the vulnerability of pedestrians even when crossing legally and the potential for injury from vehicle impacts without visible vehicle damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792424 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sport utility vehicles crashed head-on on 38th Street near 15th Avenue in Brooklyn. Both drivers were male and licensed. One driver, 19, suffered whiplash and full-body injuries but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:27 on 38th Street near 15th Avenue in Brooklyn. Two SUVs, traveling north and west respectively, collided front to front. Both drivers were licensed males operating their vehicles straight ahead. The 19-year-old driver of the northbound SUV was injured with whiplash and entire body trauma but was not ejected and remained conscious. He was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any failure to yield or other driver errors explicitly. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. Vehicle damage was centered on the front ends of both SUVs, indicating a direct collision. The report highlights the dangers of SUV-on-SUV crashes in Brooklyn's streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792202 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 12-year-old boy crossing with the signal was struck by an SUV making a left turn in Brooklyn. The driver’s inattention caused a left front bumper impact, injuring the child’s head and causing abrasions. The victim remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:02 on 42nd Street in Brooklyn. A 12-year-old male pedestrian was crossing the intersection with the signal when he was struck by a southbound SUV making a left turn. The point of impact was the vehicle’s left front bumper, damaging the left front quarter panel. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle with inattention and distraction cited as the primary contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained a head injury and abrasions but remained conscious. The report explicitly attributes the crash to driver inattention without listing any contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior. This collision highlights the systemic danger posed by distracted driving during turning maneuvers in urban intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791208 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 16-year-old e-scooter rider was injured and ejected after an SUV made a right turn and struck him on the right side. The rider suffered facial abrasions and was conscious at the scene. The crash highlights driver errors in turning maneuvers.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:12 in Brooklyn on 38th Street near Fort Hamilton Parkway. A 2023 Ford SUV was making a right turn traveling west when it struck a 16-year-old male riding an e-scooter straight ahead in the same direction. The point of impact was the SUV's right side doors and the e-scooter's center front end. The rider was ejected from the scooter, suffered facial abrasions, and was conscious at the scene. The report lists no contributing factors for the rider but notes unspecified contributing factors for the rider. The driver's action of making a right turn into the path of the e-scooter was the critical error leading to the collision and injury. This incident underscores the dangers posed by turning vehicles to vulnerable road users like e-scooter riders.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790613 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A left-turning SUV struck two pedestrians crossing with the signal at a Brooklyn intersection. Both victims, a woman and an infant, suffered whiplash and lower body injuries. Police cite driver failure to yield and inexperience as key factors.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at the intersection of 52 Street and 17 Avenue in Brooklyn shortly after midnight. A male driver operating a station wagon/SUV was making a left turn when he failed to yield right-of-way to two pedestrians crossing with the signal. The pedestrians, a 40-year-old woman and an infant, were both injured, sustaining whiplash and bodily injuries to the knee, lower leg, foot, and entire body. The report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors to the collision. The vehicle sustained no damage, and the driver was licensed in New York. The victims were conscious but injured, highlighting the dangers posed by driver errors at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792125 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04