Belt Parkway Bleeds. Ocean Avenue Mourns.

Mar 31 - A speeding Audi tore through a Brooklyn crosswalk. A mother and her two daughters died. Her young son clings to life. The driver, with a record of 93 violations, faces manslaughter charges. The street became a killing ground.

According to the New York Post (March 31, 2025), Miriam Yarimi, 35, struck and killed Natasha Saada and her daughters, Diana, 7, and Debra, 5, as they crossed legally in a Brooklyn crosswalk. Saada’s 4-year-old son was critically injured. Police say Yarimi’s Audi was speeding. The article notes her car had over 93 prior traffic violations. Yarimi reportedly told first responders she was 'possessed' and referenced 'the devil in me.' She faces manslaughter and related charges. The case highlights the dangers of repeat traffic offenders and the deadly consequences when enforcement fails. Yarimi is undergoing psychiatric evaluation at Bellevue Hospital.

• Brooklyn Driver Kills Mother, Two Daughters, New York Post, Published 2025-03-31

Mar 31 - 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

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 27 - A 70-year-old man crossing against the signal was struck by a northbound sedan on Avenue U in Brooklyn. The vehicle’s left front bumper hit the pedestrian, causing severe leg injuries. Limited driver visibility contributed to the collision.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Avenue U in Brooklyn struck a 70-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing against the signal. The point of impact was the vehicle’s left front bumper, damaging the left front quarter panel. The pedestrian suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at level 3. The report identifies "View Obstructed/Limited" as a contributing factor, indicating the driver’s limited visibility played a role in the crash. The pedestrian’s crossing against the signal is noted but driver error related to limited visibility is the primary factor cited. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the collision. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801813 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 27 - Two drivers suffered contusions and bruises in a high-speed collision on Belt Parkway. Both men were conscious and restrained. Impact struck the left side doors of the truck and front ends of both vehicles. Unsafe speed cited as cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Belt Parkway at 21:28 involving a pick-up truck and a sedan, both traveling eastbound. The pick-up truck was struck on its left side doors, while both vehicles sustained front-end damage. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor to the collision. Both drivers, aged 37 and 54, were conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses. They suffered contusions and bruises to the elbow, lower arm, hand, shoulder, and upper arm, with injury severity rated at level 3. Neither occupant was ejected. The drivers were licensed in New York and were going straight ahead before the crash. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801785 - 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 21 - A 16-year-old driver suffered a concussion after two sedans collided on Oriental Blvd. Police cite driver inexperience and unsafe speed. The teen was left injured but conscious.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed on Oriental Blvd in Brooklyn at 11:48. One car made a left turn while the other traveled straight. The 16-year-old driver of the turning sedan was injured, sustaining a concussion. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The impact struck the left side doors of the teen's car. The injured driver wore a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No victim actions contributed to the crash. The report details the risks when inexperienced drivers travel too fast on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800356 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 18 - A sedan and bicyclist collided head-on on E 18 St in Brooklyn. The 37-year-old female cyclist was ejected and suffered bruises and arm injuries. The sedan’s left front bumper struck the bike’s center front, causing serious harm.

According to the police report, at 14:20 on E 18 St in Brooklyn, a southbound sedan and a southbound bicycle collided head-on. The sedan, driven by a licensed male driver, impacted the bike at its center front with the sedan’s left front bumper. The bicyclist, a 37-year-old female, was ejected from her bike and sustained contusions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not assign fault to the bicyclist. The collision’s impact and ejection highlight the severity of the crash. Driver errors such as failure to yield or other specific violations are not explicitly cited, but the collision’s nature points to a dangerous interaction between the sedan and the bicycle on the roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801040 - 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 on Belt Parkway when one followed too closely. The impact struck the rear center of the lead vehicle and injured its driver, a 37-year-old man, who suffered a neck contusion but remained conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Belt Parkway at 9:15 AM involving two sedans traveling westbound. The collision was caused by the trailing vehicle following too closely, which led to it striking the center back end of the lead vehicle. The lead vehicle sustained damage to its right rear bumper, while the striking vehicle's left front bumper was damaged. The driver of the lead vehicle, a 37-year-old man, was injured with a neck contusion but was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report explicitly cites 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, highlighting driver error as the cause. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797571 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 3 - A 76-year-old woman crossing Avenue Y with the signal suffered a severe leg fracture after an SUV making a left turn struck her. The driver’s failure to yield right-of-way caused the collision, leaving the pedestrian injured but conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 76-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Avenue Y and Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn at 6:21 p.m. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2020 Nissan SUV, traveling east and making a left turn, struck her on the left front quarter panel. The report cites the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian sustained a fracture and dislocation to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as a severe injury. The vehicle sustained no damage. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally, but the failure to yield created a dangerous situation resulting in serious harm to a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796160 - 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 70-year-old woman was struck by a sedan while crossing Ocean Avenue with the signal. The driver, distracted and making a left turn, impacted the pedestrian’s upper leg. The pedestrian sustained bruising and remained conscious after the collision.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Ocean Avenue made a left turn and struck a 70-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian suffered an upper leg contusion and remained conscious following the impact. The vehicle’s point of impact was the left front bumper, and despite the collision, the sedan showed no damage. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle at the time. The report explicitly cites driver distraction as the cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian’s actions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795887 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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 25 - A sedan tore down Everett Avenue, its right bumper smashing into a 14-year-old boy on an e-scooter. Blood pooled on the street. The boy stayed conscious, his legs crushed, his ride ended by speed and steel.

A 14-year-old boy riding an e-scooter on Everett Avenue near Aster Court was struck by a sedan traveling at unsafe speed, according to the police report. The collision occurred at 7:35 p.m. and left the boy with crush injuries to his legs. The report states, 'A 14-year-old boy on an e-scooter, no helmet, struck by a speeding sedan. The car’s right bumper crushed his legs. He stayed awake. Blood pooled on the street where his ride ended.' The police report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor in the crash. The sedan’s right front bumper was the point of impact, matching the boy’s lower leg injuries. The report notes the boy was not wearing a helmet, but this is listed after the driver’s error of unsafe speed. The focus remains on the driver’s excessive speed, which led directly to the severe injuries suffered by the vulnerable e-scooter rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794963 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 23 - A sedan on Belt Parkway crashed after the driver reacted to another vehicle. The front passenger, a 20-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Impact struck the car’s left front. No other factors listed.

According to the police report, a 20-year-old female passenger in a 2009 Toyota sedan was injured on Belt Parkway at 10:10 a.m. The sedan, heading east, crashed when the driver reacted to an uninvolved vehicle. The collision struck the left front bumper. The passenger, restrained by a lap belt and harness, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The report lists the driver’s contributing factor as "Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle," highlighting a driver error in response to traffic. No other contributing factors or victim actions were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794634 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 19 - A sedan hit a 12-year-old boy crossing Gravesend Neck Road. The child suffered a head injury. The car struck him head-on. Night. Brooklyn. No driver errors listed. The boy was conscious, hurt, and bleeding.

According to the police report, a 12-year-old boy was struck by a sedan while crossing Gravesend Neck Road at 8:05 PM in Brooklyn. The boy suffered a head injury and concussion but remained conscious. The report states the pedestrian was crossing against the signal at the intersection. The sedan, driven by a licensed New Jersey man, was traveling straight east and hit the boy with its center front end. The police report does not cite any driver errors. The crash underscores the danger for pedestrians at intersections where signals are ignored and vehicles continue ahead.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793765 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04