Eight Dead, No Excuses: Precinct 88’s Streets Are Killing Us

May 8 - A police cruiser slammed into a Nissan at a Brooklyn intersection. Sirens wailed. Metal twisted. An officer lay critically hurt. The Nissan driver survived. The street bore the scars. Another night, another crash. The city keeps moving.

ABC7 reported on May 8, 2025, that an NYPD officer was critically injured when a marked police vehicle collided with a white Nissan Rogue at Willoughby Avenue and Walworth Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Officers were responding to a 911 call for an armed man. The article states, “A marked NYPD vehicle was traveling eastbound on Willoughby Avenue when it collided with a white Nissan Rogue traveling northbound on Walworth Street.” The officer was hospitalized in critical but stable condition; the Nissan driver, age 28, was also hospitalized and is stable. The crash highlights the dangers at intersections, especially during emergency responses. The investigation continues, with no details yet on contributing factors or policy changes.

• NYPD Cruiser Collides With Nissan In Brooklyn, ABC7, Published 2025-05-08

May 6 - SUV struck on Lafayette and Clinton. Three men inside hurt. Head, neck, and back injuries. Police cite other vehicular factors. Streets remain unforgiving.

Three men were injured when a 2023 Toyota SUV, traveling north on Lafayette Avenue, was struck while making a left turn at Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Other Vehicular' contributing factors. The driver and two rear passengers suffered whiplash, with injuries to the head, neck, and back. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report does not specify further details about the cause, but lists 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811683 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 6 - A principal drove down Lenox Road, lost control, hit parked cars, and flipped his vehicle. Police pulled him from the wreck. He refused a Breathalyzer. Charges followed. The street bore the scars. The system let him drive. The danger stayed.

According to NY Daily News (2025-05-06), Gregory Jackson, principal of Brownsville Collaborative Middle School, crashed on Lenox Road near Utica Ave. Police say he struck several parked cars and overturned his vehicle around 11:30 p.m. Jackson told police he had 'only one drink.' He refused a Breathalyzer test at the scene. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while impaired, and refusing the test. The Department of Education referred questions to the NYPD. The incident highlights the ongoing risk posed by impaired drivers and the vulnerability of anyone near city streets, even when parked. Systemic gaps allow such danger to persist.

• Principal Overturns Car In Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-06

May 4 - A distracted driver slammed into a stopped sedan on Washington Ave. One woman suffered neck and internal injuries. Police cite inattention and traffic control disregard.

A crash on Washington Ave at Greene Ave in Brooklyn left a 58-year-old woman injured. According to the police report, a northbound sedan struck another sedan stopped in traffic. The driver suffered neck and internal injuries. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. Both vehicles sustained damage to their front and rear ends. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report highlights driver error as the cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4810552 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 4 - A volunteer EMT hit a 19-year-old crossing McDonald Avenue. The crash happened at night. Lights and sirens blared. The young man suffered severe head trauma. Medics rushed him to the hospital. The driver stayed. Police are investigating.

According to NY Daily News (2025-05-04), a Hatzolah volunteer EMT driving a smart car struck a 19-year-old pedestrian at McDonald Avenue and Avenue P in Brooklyn around 1:20 a.m. The article states, “The 39-year-old driver was behind the wheel of a smart car for the ambulance service, going north on McDonald Ave., lights and sirens on, when he struck the pedestrian as he was crossing.” The pedestrian suffered critical head injuries and was transported to Maimonides Hospital. The driver remained at the scene. Police are investigating the crash. The incident highlights the risks faced by pedestrians, even when emergency vehicles are present. No charges have been filed as of publication.

• EMT Strikes Pedestrian On McDonald Ave, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-04

Apr 30 - A stolen Porsche sped through Brooklyn. Police set a roadblock. The car veered toward officers. One fired. The driver, struck, crashed again and died at the hospital. The chase ended in Starrett City. No officers or passengers were reported hurt.

Gothamist reported on April 30, 2025, that NYPD officers shot and killed a man driving a stolen Porsche after a chase on the Belt Parkway. Police said the driver, spotted near Brighton Beach, "maneuvered onto the service road in [the] direction of several officers who set up a roadblock to stop this vehicle." When the driver "veered toward one of the officers and nearly hit him," an officer fired, striking the driver. The car continued another mile before crashing again. The driver died at Brookdale Hospital. The incident was captured on police body cameras. Officers were treated at local hospitals but not injured. The article notes this was the fourth fatal police shooting by NYPD in 2025. The event highlights risks of high-speed chases and the dangers posed by fleeing vehicles near roadblocks.

• Police Shoot Driver After Parkway Chase, Gothamist, Published 2025-04-30

Apr 29 - Two sedans crashed on Tillary Street. Passengers suffered head and back injuries. Police cite driver distraction. Metal and glass, pain and confusion, all in a Brooklyn instant.

Two sedans collided on Tillary Street near Park Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, driver inattention and distraction led to the crash. A 26-year-old male passenger suffered a head injury and whiplash. A 33-year-old male driver reported back pain and nausea. Both vehicles sustained damage to their front and back ends. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left passengers hurt and exposed the danger of distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809047 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 24 - A 101-year-old woman crossed with the light. An SUV turned left. The driver was unlicensed. She died days later. Her family mourns. The street remains the same.

According to the New York Post (April 24, 2025), Taibel Brod, 101, was fatally struck by a 2023 GMC Yukon while crossing Brooklyn Avenue at Montgomery Street in Crown Heights. Police say Brod had the light. The driver, Menachem Shagalow, 65, was unlicensed and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to exercise due care. The article quotes Brod's grandson: "She was extremely independent till her last day." Brod died less than two weeks after the crash. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians, especially from unlicensed drivers. Shagalow was released with a desk appearance ticket. The case underscores persistent gaps in enforcement and street design that leave vulnerable road users exposed.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Brooklyn Matriarch, New York Post, Published 2025-04-24

Apr 23 - Taibel Brod crossed with the light. The SUV turned left, struck her. She fell. Two weeks later, she died. The driver had no license. Police charged him. The street stayed open. The city moved on.

NY Daily News reported on April 23, 2025, that Taibel Brod, 101, was killed after an SUV hit her while she crossed Montgomery St. in Crown Heights with the walk signal. The driver, Menachem Shagalow, turned left without a license and struck Brod. Police charged him with aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to exercise due care. The article quotes Brod’s son, who called the crash a "tragedy." Brod died from her injuries nearly two weeks later. The case highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians, especially from unlicensed drivers and left turns at intersections. No changes to the street were reported.

• Unlicensed SUV Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-23

Apr 19 - A moped and car collided on Washington Ave. The moped driver suffered hip and leg injuries. Police cite vehicular factors. The crash left the street scarred and the rider hurt.

A moped and a car crashed on Washington Ave near Park Ave in Brooklyn. The 33-year-old moped driver was injured in the hip and upper leg and reported whiplash. According to the police report, 'Other Vehicular' factors contributed to the crash. The moped was struck at the center back end, while the car was damaged at the front. The driver wore a helmet, as noted in the report, but the main cause listed was vehicular error. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807248 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 19 - An SUV struck a cyclist on DeKalb Ave. The rider suffered leg injuries. Police cite vehicular factors and confusion. No one else was hurt. The crash left the street scarred and silent.

A 21-year-old cyclist was injured after a collision with an SUV on DeKalb Ave at S Elliott Pl in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' and 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as contributing factors. The cyclist was wearing a helmet. No other occupants or drivers reported injuries. The crash involved a bike, an SUV, and a sedan. Police cited vehicular factors and confusion as causes. No blame is placed on the injured cyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807394 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 18 - Two sedans crashed on Park Ave in Brooklyn. Three men injured, arms and shoulders hit. Police say one driver fell asleep. Shock followed. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

Two sedans collided on Park Ave near Classon Ave in Brooklyn. Three men, ages 33, 50, and 59, suffered arm and shoulder injuries. According to the police report, one driver 'fell asleep,' causing the crash. The impact left all three injured men in shock. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the primary contributing factor. No other driver errors are noted. The crash highlights the risk when drivers lose control at the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806574 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 16 - New research from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets announced a report detailing NYC's top 10 super speeders.

• Road report: Here’s where lead-foot drivers repeatedly get speed-camera tickets in NYC, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-04-16

Apr 10 - A driver ran a stop sign in East New York. He slammed into a school bus. His passenger died. The bus driver was hurt. The driver fled but police caught him. The street stayed stained. The system failed to protect.

According to amNY (April 10, 2025), Tyree Epps faces charges after a deadly crash at Van Sinderen and Blake avenues. Epps, unlicensed, "blew a stop sign" and struck a school bus, killing his passenger, Imani Vance, and injuring the bus driver. The article quotes Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez: "The tragic loss of Imani Vance was allegedly caused by the defendant's reckless decision to ignore a stop sign and drive at excessive speeds." Epps left the scene, tried to escape in an Uber, and was arrested after fleeing on foot. The crash was one of three fatal Brooklyn incidents that weekend. City data cited in the article shows ongoing danger: at least 15 killed in Kings County so far this year, with thousands injured, often due to driver inattention and failure to yield. The charges and details highlight persistent risks and enforcement gaps on city streets.

• Brooklyn Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, amny, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 9 - A driver ran a stop sign in East New York. He slammed into a school bus. His passenger died. The bus driver was hurt. The driver fled in an Uber. Police caught him soon after. Streets remain unforgiving.

Gothamist (April 9, 2025) reports that Tyree Epps, 32, was indicted after allegedly running a stop sign and crashing into a school bus in East New York, Brooklyn. The February collision killed his 26-year-old passenger, Imani Vance, and injured the bus driver. According to the Brooklyn DA, Epps "ignored a stop sign and drove at excessive speeds," then left the scene by calling an Uber, abandoning his injured passenger. The impact pushed the bus into a third, empty vehicle. No children on the bus were harmed. Epps was apprehended after fleeing on foot. The case highlights persistent dangers at intersections and the lethal consequences of ignoring traffic controls.

• Brooklyn Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, Gothamist, Published 2025-04-09

Apr 2 - A car plowed through families on Ocean Parkway. Three killed. Survivors hurt, shaken, haunted. The driver had a suspended license, dozens of violations, unpaid fines. The city’s streets failed to protect the most vulnerable. Pain lingers. Justice waits.

ABC7 reported on April 2, 2025, that a crash in Brooklyn killed a mother and her two daughters, leaving another family injured and traumatized. The article states, “Shakhzod described ongoing back pain and fears of another accident.” The driver, Miriam Yarimi, had 93 violations, $10,000 in unpaid fines, and a suspended license. She struck an Uber, then hit families crossing Ocean Parkway, flipping her vehicle. Yarimi faces charges including manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. The crash exposes systemic failure: a driver with a long record remained on the road. Survivors suffer lasting physical and emotional wounds. The city’s enforcement and oversight remain under scrutiny.

• Brooklyn Crash Leaves Family Scarred, Three Dead, ABC7, Published 2025-04-02

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