Utica, Church, Linden: a body count and a clock

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 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 - A Jeep tore into a parked Infiniti on Albany Avenue. The driver, a 52-year-old man, sat silent and bleeding from the head. Metal and glass marked the street. The city’s silence pressed in. Emergency lights flickered on Clarkson.

According to the police report, a Jeep traveling south on Albany Avenue near Clarkson Avenue in Brooklyn struck a parked Infiniti. The impact was severe enough that a Toyota sedan followed, colliding as well. The report states that a 52-year-old male driver, belted and behind the wheel, suffered a head injury with severe bleeding and was in shock. The narrative describes the scene as tense and silent, with the injured man remaining motionless. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' providing no further detail on the cause. The Jeep sustained center front-end damage, while the Infiniti was struck in the center back end. No errors or dangerous behaviors are attributed to the victim in the report. The focus remains on the violent impact and the resulting injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797654 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 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 smashed head-on on Utica Avenue. A 19-year-old woman in the back seat took the brunt. She suffered whiplash and full-body injuries. Both cars’ front ends crumpled. The street bore the force.

According to the police report, a crash occurred at 8:00 a.m. on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn. A westbound Honda sedan going straight collided head-on with an eastbound Toyota sedan making a left turn. Both vehicles suffered center front-end damage. A 19-year-old female passenger in the left rear seat was injured, sustaining whiplash and injuries to her entire body. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the danger of left turns and head-on impacts between vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795654 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 27 - Delivery workers rallied against Hochul’s e-bike crackdown. Council weighs bills to license e-bikes, raise pay, and study conditions. DOT opposes registration. Advocates warn of criminalization. City Hall silent. Streets stay dangerous for those on foot and bike.

On February 27, 2025, the City Council considered three bills: Intro 606 (register and license all e-bikes), Intro 1133 (expand minimum wage, study delivery worker conditions), and Intro 1135 (set minimum pay for grocery delivery). Intro 606 faces opposition from DOT, which says, 'there is no evidence that registration improves safety.' The matter’s summary warns that Hochul’s plan would let NYPD enforce bike lane speed limits and reclassify heavy e-bikes as mopeds, requiring licenses and registration. Council members are split: Brad Lander supports regulation targeting app companies, not workers; Jessica Ramos and Zohran Mamdani call for better street design; Michael Blake urges targeted safety solutions and more infrastructure. Advocates like Ligia Guallpa say these measures would criminalize delivery workers and create a 'ticketing-to-deportation pipeline.' The Council press office did not comment. The debate exposes a city divided on how to protect its most vulnerable road users.

• Leadership Vacuum: Delivery Workers Oppose Hochul’s E-Bike Plan as Adams Goes AWOL, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-27

Feb 19 - Trump killed congestion pricing. The MTA sued. Advocates warn: more cars, more crashes, dirtier air. Transit funding gutted. Disabled riders lose elevators. Streets grow deadlier. Politicians vow to fight. The city braces for gridlock and loss.

""Congestion pricing is working – and is critical for the investments we need to make in our public transit system. We need leadership that's not afraid to stand up for us, or stand up against Donald Trump."" -- Zellnor Myrie

On February 19, 2025, the Trump administration withdrew federal approval for New York City's congestion pricing program. U.S. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy cited burdens on working-class drivers and questioned the legality of using toll revenue for transit. The MTA immediately filed a lawsuit to challenge the move, arguing the program is settled law and already reduces congestion. State Senators Andrew Gounardes and Zellnor Myrie condemned the action, warning, 'Trump will be directly responsible for more traffic, more crashes, more polluted air, slower buses and less funding for our transit system.' The withdrawal aligns with New Jersey's opposition and threatens transit upgrades like elevators for elderly and disabled riders. Local officials and advocates say ending congestion pricing will harm vulnerable road users and worsen street danger.

• Trump Withdraws Federal Approval for Congestion Pricing, Blowing Hole in Transit Budget, as MTA Files Lawsuit, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-19

Feb 18 - 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

Feb 13 - Council pushes for a study and five-year plan to install tactile paving on city sidewalks. The bill targets safer streets for blind and low-vision New Yorkers. Sponsors demand action, not delay.

Bill Int 1195-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on February 13, 2025. The bill, titled “A Local Law in relation to requiring a study and plan regarding the installation of tactile paving on sidewalks,” calls for a one-year study and a five-year plan to install tactile paving. Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary sponsor), Sandra Ung, and Chris Banks back the measure. The plan will identify high-priority blocks, consult disability advocates, and set standards for design and maintenance. Annual progress reports must go to the Mayor and Council Speaker and be posted online.

• File Int 1195-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Feb 13 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Feb 13 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Feb 13 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Feb 5 - A pickup truck turned left into blinding sun at E 59 St and Beverley Rd. Its bumper smashed a 14-year-old girl’s face as she crossed with the signal. Blood pooled on the pavement. She stood, hands pressed to her wound.

According to the police report, a pickup truck was making a left turn at the corner of E 59 St and Beverley Rd in Brooklyn when it struck a 14-year-old pedestrian. The incident occurred at 15:17. The report states the driver turned 'into the sun,' with 'glare' listed as a contributing factor. The left front bumper of the truck hit the girl in the face, causing severe bleeding. She remained conscious and standing, hands pressed to her wound. The police narrative confirms the girl was 'crossing with the signal' at the intersection. The report does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor, but explicitly notes the driver's action—turning left into glare—preceded the impact. The data underscores the persistent danger posed by turning vehicles at signalized crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790784 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19