Hey you,
On Saturday, March 29, a regular afternoon turned deadly on Ocean Parkway in Gravesend, Brooklyn. Miriam Yarimi, a 32-year-old wigmaker, was driving her Audi—license plate “WIGM8KER”—when she smashed into a Toyota Camry Uber. The collision sent her car careening into a family of four crossing the street after Shabbat services. The result? A 32-year-old mom and her two daughters, ages 8 and 5, were killed. Her 4-year-old son? Fighting for his life in critical condition at Maimonides Medical Center. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called it “horrific.” Check the latest from NYPD News.
Yarimi? She’s now facing a laundry list of charges: three counts of second-degree manslaughter, three counts of criminally negligent homicide, four counts of second-degree assault, plus reckless driving and more. Oh, and her license? Suspended. Yikes.
Who’s Miriam Yarimi? The 411
Miriam, aka “Ellie,” isn’t just any driver. She’s a wig-making pro in Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish community, known for her luxe lifestyle and a vanity plate that screams her trade. Her Audi’s racked up over 93 traffic violations—think speeding tickets and $10K in fines—per NYC’s traffic data. She’s also no stranger to headlines: in 2023, she won a $2 million settlement from the NYPD, alleging an officer assaulted her at 14. Now, she’s in custody, undergoing a psych eval at Bellevue Hospital, claiming she was “possessed” post-crash, per New York Post.
The Fallout: Grief and Outrage
Brooklyn’s in mourning. The mom, Natasha Saada, and her daughters, Diana and Deborah, were just walking home. Natasha’s husband and the little boy’s dad, David, is left picking up the pieces. A GoFundMe for the family’s skyrocketing, and a vigil’s planned. Meanwhile, social media’s erupting—some X posts call Yarimi a “POS” and hope she “rots in prison.” The community’s asking: how’d someone with a suspended license and a rap sheet this long stay on the road?
What’s Next: Justice on Deck
Yarimi’s arraignment’s pending in Brooklyn Criminal Court—she appeared via video from her hospital bed on April 3, rocking a yellow gown. Prosecutors are pushing a grand jury indictment, and her lawyer’s weighing options. Cops say she was going 50 mph in a 25-mph zone—no booze or drugs, just reckless speed. Will she cop a plea or fight it? Stay tuned to Gothamist for updates.
The Bottom Line
The Brooklyn crash 2025 is a tragedy that’s got NYC buzzing. A wigmaker with a wild past, a family torn apart, and a city demanding answers. Miriam Yarimi’s story is a gut punch—proof life can flip in a second. Keep your eyes peeled—this one’s far from over.