A devastating incident occurred in Brooklyn, New York, where a mother and her two children lost their lives in a tragic car crash while crossing a street on Saturday. Additionally, a third child was left critically injured as a result of the accident. The collision involved an Audi rear-ending a Toyota Camry, leading to severe consequences for those involved.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressed the media, expressing the gravity of the situation by stating, “I will call it like it is. This was a horrific tragedy caused by someone who shouldn’t have been on the road.” She further emphasized the impact of the incident, highlighting the loss of the mother and two young children, with another child currently fighting for their life. The entire family and neighborhood have been deeply affected by this devastating event.
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The crash happened just after 1 p.m. A total of 10 people, including six children, were taken to various hospitals in the collision.
Tisch provided details of the crash, explaining that the 63-year-old driver of the Toyota sustained minor injuries. Furthermore, a 35-year-old woman, a 4-year-old girl, a 5-year-old boy, and a 12-year-old boy who were also in the vehicle suffered injuries in the collision. The aftermath of the accident has left a community grieving and serves as a reminder of the importance of road safety for all individuals.
The collision sent the Audi into the pedestrians, who were in the crosswalk before the vehicle overturned, authorities said.
The 32-year-old woman and her 5- and 8-year-old daughters were pronounced dead at the scene, and the 4-year-old boy was hospitalized in critical condition.
His 32-year-old mother, Natasha Saada, and older sisters, 5-year-old Deborah and 8-year-old Diana, were flown to Israel for burial later Monday.
The driver of the Audi, Mariam Yarimi, 32, was driving on a suspended license. Her car went airborne as it rolled over, according to a witness, and she had to be extricated from the vehicle. She was taken to the hospital, and remained stable.
Mayor Eric Adams says this is concerning and painful, specifically for this community.
“A tragic, tragic accident of a Shakespearean proportion, to see a mother and her two children lost to a vehicle crash. This is extremely concerning and painful, not only to the city of New York in general, but specifically to a very close-knit community. Mother going for a simple stroll on a sunny day, was struck and killed, as we pray for their families and this entire community, the city mourns,” Adams said.
“Horrifying. I mean — I’m not even processing it right now, you know what I mean?” eyewitness Robin said.
Residents say speed is a constant issue in the area.
One man described a motorcycle going what he estimated to be over 60 miles per hour right before the car crash at 1 p.m. They also say people often blow red lights and do not abide by the 25-mile-per-hour signs or speed cameras.
Mayor Adams planned to visit the family of the deceased in the hospital.
Yarimi is hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation, as she awaits arraignment in the weekend crash.
She is facing charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and assault.
Yarimi’s blue Audi A3 sedan had 99 parking and camera violations between August 2023 and March 2025, including 21 speed camera tickets and five red light tickets, with nearly $10,500 in fines, according to howsmydrivingnyc, a website that tracks violations using city data.
A vehicle with the same license plate still has $1,345 in unpaid fines, according to NYCServ.
Yarimi told first responders that she was “possessed” and the CIA was following her.
The crash has renewed calls for lawmakers to support legislation that would require drivers who rack up more than six speed-camera or red-light tickets to install a speed limiter in their car, barring them from exceeding the speed limit by more than five miles per hour.
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