Ocean Hill Bleeds While Leaders Stall

Apr 1 - A mother and two children died on Ocean Parkway. A driver with a suspended license and a record of violations struck them. The road has claimed many lives before. Residents see speeding daily. Calls for change echo. Danger remains.

The New York Post (April 1, 2025) reports that Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn has seen 20 deaths since 2014, with nearly 2,400 injuries since 2012. On March 30, Miriam Yarimi, driving with a suspended license and 93 prior traffic violations, crashed into an Uber and then into a family, killing Natasha Saada and two of her children. A third child remains in critical condition. The article quotes Ben Furnas of Transportation Alternatives: Ocean Parkway is 'one of Brooklyn's most dangerous roads.' Residents and advocates demand stronger safety measures, including speed-limiting technology for repeat offenders. Mayor Eric Adams is open to lowering the speed limit, but state approval is needed. Despite Vision Zero, Ocean Parkway remains hazardous for pedestrians.

• Ocean Parkway Crash Exposes Deadly Pattern, New York Post, Published 2025-04-01

Mar 31 - A distracted sedan driver pulled from parking and struck a westbound cyclist on Pacific Street. The 51-year-old rider suffered internal injuries. The car’s right front bumper took the hit. The cyclist stayed conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan starting from a parking spot on Pacific Street in Brooklyn struck a 51-year-old bicyclist traveling west. The crash happened at 7:30 AM. The cyclist suffered internal injuries to the abdomen and pelvis but remained conscious and was not ejected. The sedan’s right front bumper was damaged. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, pointing to the sedan driver's failure to stay alert while moving from parking. No contributing factors were attributed to the cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803865 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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 30 - A 21-year-old unlicensed motorcyclist suffered serious leg injuries in a collision with an SUV in Brooklyn. The motorcycle struck the SUV’s left front quarter panel. The driver was not ejected but left in shock with contusions and bruises.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 13:50 near 317 Rockaway Ave in Brooklyn. A 21-year-old male motorcyclist, traveling south without a license, collided with a licensed female SUV driver traveling southeast. The motorcycle impacted the SUV’s left front quarter panel, damaging the motorcycle’s center front end and the SUV’s left front bumper. The motorcyclist, who was not wearing safety equipment, sustained knee, lower leg, and foot injuries, classified as severity level 3, and was left in shock with contusions and bruises. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but highlights the motorcyclist’s unlicensed status as a critical driver error. The SUV driver’s actions are described as 'Other*' pre-crash, with no further detail. The motorcyclist was not ejected from the vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802139 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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 23 - Two sedans slammed together on Atlantic Avenue. The blow hit one car’s rear, the other’s front. A 24-year-old driver took the worst of it—back hurt, shaken, strapped in tight.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling westbound collided on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn at 21:55. The Tesla’s center back end was struck; the Jeep hit with its center front. The 24-year-old male Tesla driver suffered back injuries and shock. He wore a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors. No driver errors like failure to yield or speeding are named. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left the Tesla driver injured, underscoring the force of car-on-car impacts.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801045 - 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 10 - An SUV making a left turn collided with a taxi traveling straight on Ralph Ave in Brooklyn. The impact struck the taxi’s left side doors. Both drivers and a child passenger suffered injuries, including back and hip pain, and were left in shock.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Ralph Ave in Brooklyn at 17:27. The SUV, driven by a licensed female driver traveling south, was making a left turn when it struck a southbound taxi going straight ahead. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the SUV against the left side doors of the taxi. The taxi driver, a 37-year-old male, and a 10-year-old female passenger in the taxi were injured, sustaining back and hip-upper leg injuries respectively, both experiencing shock and complaints of pain or nausea. The report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, but the SUV driver's left turn into the path of the taxi was the critical action leading to the collision. Both injured occupants were restrained with lap belts and were not ejected.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797743 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Mar 8 - SUV struck taxi’s rear on Atlantic Avenue. Driver inattention listed as cause. Left rear SUV passenger, a woman, suffered facial injuries and shock. Both vehicles damaged. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

According to the police report, an SUV hit the back of a taxi on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn at 18:50. Both vehicles were heading west. The SUV’s left front bumper struck the taxi’s center rear. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main factor, listed twice. A 43-year-old woman riding in the SUV’s left rear seat was injured in the face and suffered shock. She was not ejected. No other contributing factors or victim actions are noted. The crash left both vehicles damaged at the points of impact, showing the force and danger when drivers lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797211 - 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 3 - A van driven without a license struck the left side of a sedan traveling south on Dean Street in Brooklyn. The sedan’s female driver suffered neck injuries and shock. The crash involved a disregard of traffic control, according to the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Dean Street near Saratoga Avenue in Brooklyn at 4 p.m. A van, driven eastbound by an unlicensed male driver, collided with the left side doors of a southbound BMW sedan. The sedan’s female driver, who was properly licensed and restrained with a lap belt, sustained neck injuries and was in shock. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, highlighting driver error by the van operator. Vehicle damage was concentrated on the left side of the van and the center front end of the sedan. No contributing factors related to the sedan driver were noted. This collision underscores the dangers posed by unlicensed drivers and failure to obey traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796345 - 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 26 - Council slashed parking mandates in transit-rich zones. Mandates linger in outer areas. Progress, but not full victory. Some districts carved out exceptions. Housing and parking no longer clash in core neighborhoods. Vulnerable road users still face cars in many places.

""A spokesperson for Council Member Sandy Nurse (D Brownsville) said her entire district is in the 'outer transit zone' because the Council's 'compromise [was] shaped by amendments from our district’s community boards.' 'It wasn't something that was pushed for specifically by Council Member Nurse,' spokesperson Patricia Santana told Streetsblog." -- Sandy Nurse

On February 26, 2025, the City Council approved Mayor Adams's 'City of Yes' rezoning. The bill divided the city into zones: the Manhattan core, an inner transit zone with no parking mandates, an outer transit zone with reduced mandates, and areas beyond where mandates mostly remain. The matter summary states, 'The final plan did not eliminate parking mandates citywide but divided the city into zones.' Council Member Crystal Hudson pushed to eliminate mandates in all her districts. Council Member Shahana Hanif opposed carve-outs. Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez called parking mandates 'a concession to cars that we don’t need and can’t afford.' Council Member Sandy Nurse’s district saw mandates shaped by community board amendments, not her advocacy. Dan Garodnick, Department of City Planning chair, said, 'parking and housing are no longer coming into conflict in the parts of New York City that are well-served by transit.' The bill passed after compromises, leaving mandates in some areas and progress in others. No direct safety impact assessment was provided.

• ‘City of … Sort Of’: How Do The ‘Outer Transit Zone’ Parking Mandate Reductions Work?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-26

Feb 20 - An e-scooter driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a collision with a vehicle making a left turn on Thomas S Boyland St. The driver was partially ejected and sustained abrasions, with police citing driver inattention as a key factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred around 5 p.m. on Thomas S Boyland St in Brooklyn. The e-scooter driver, a 31-year-old male wearing a helmet, was traveling north when a vehicle also traveling north made a left turn, resulting in a collision. The point of impact was the left side doors of the turning vehicle and the center front end of the e-scooter. The e-scooter driver was partially ejected and sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3, including abrasions. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. No damage was reported to either vehicle. The incident highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction during turning maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793923 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 20 - A northbound sedan making a left turn collided with a southbound bicyclist going straight on Rockaway Ave in Brooklyn. The bicyclist suffered facial contusions and bruises but was conscious and not ejected. The sedan sustained front-end damage.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old male bicyclist traveling southbound on Rockaway Ave was struck on his left side doors by a northbound sedan making a left turn. The sedan's center front end was the point of impact, causing damage to the vehicle's front. The bicyclist sustained facial contusions and bruises and was conscious after the crash. The report lists the bicyclist's contributing factors as unspecified but does not attribute any specific fault or error to him. The sedan driver was licensed and operating the vehicle during the left turn maneuver. The collision highlights the dangers posed by turning vehicles to bicyclists traveling straight through intersections. No helmet or other safety equipment was reported for the bicyclist, but no contributing factor was assigned to that. The report does not specify driver errors such as failure to yield, but the left turn by the sedan into the bicyclist's path was the critical event.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793805 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 18 - A westbound car hit a 42-year-old man near Eastern Parkway. He lay semiconscious, blood pooling from his head. No crosswalk, no warning, just the sudden violence of metal against flesh and the silence that followed.

A 42-year-old man was struck by a westbound car on St. Johns Place near Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The report describes the man lying semiconscious on the pavement, bleeding from the head after being hit by the vehicle's left front bumper. The incident occurred at 20:56. The police report notes, 'No crosswalk. No warning. Just blood on the road and silence.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection when struck. No contributing factors or vehicle types were listed in the police report, and no driver actions are specified. The report does not indicate any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the impact and the severe injury suffered by the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793922 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04