Tragedy in Brooklyn: Speeding Driver Kills Jewish Mother and Two Children While Walking Home from Synagogue

A devastating car crash in Brooklyn on March 29 has sent shockwaves through New York City and the Jewish community, after a speeding driver fatally struck a mother and her two young daughters as they were walking home from synagogue on Shabbat. Prosecutors revealed that the driver, 32-year-old Miriam Yarimi, was traveling nearly three times the speed limit—at full throttle—when the collision occurred.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced on Wednesday that Yarimi has been arraigned in Brooklyn Supreme Court on multiple charges, including second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, second-degree assault, and other related offenses.

A Family’s Final Walk

The victims—Natasha Saada, 34, and her daughters, Diana, 8, and Deborah, 5—were crossing Ocean Parkway in Midwood, a neighborhood with a large Jewish population, when tragedy struck. The family was just steps from the sidewalk when Yarimi’s 2023 Audi, reportedly speeding at approximately 68 mph in a 25 mph zone, slammed into the back of a Toyota Camry waiting at the intersection and barreled through the Saadas.

The force of the impact flipped Yarimi’s car, which came to a stop 130 feet away, upside down. Natasha and her daughters were pronounced dead at the scene. A fourth child, 4-year-old Philip, survived but suffered life-threatening injuries, including skull fractures, internal bleeding, and the loss of a kidney.

“This horrific fatal crash was one of the worst I’ve seen in over 25 years as a prosecutor,” DA Gonzalez said. “It wasn’t an accident. This defendant’s unconscionably dangerous driving wiped out a family. We will now seek to hold her fully accountable.”

A Disturbing Pattern

Court documents and investigators say Yarimi ran a red light just blocks before the fatal crash, nearly colliding with other vehicles. Surveillance footage showed no signs of braking before the impact.

Yarimi, who ran a wig business and branded herself online as the “WIGM8KER,” had dozens of traffic violations and was driving with a suspended license at the time of the crash. Her past social media posts often highlighted her Jewish faith and celebrations of holidays like Purim and Passover.

Held Without Bail

Yarimi, who sustained minor injuries in the crash, was hospitalized and is now being held without bail. She faces a maximum prison sentence of 5 to 15 years if convicted. Her car, an Audi with vanity plates linked to her wig business, is now a symbol of the recklessness that ended three innocent lives.

Community in Mourning

The crash has ignited an outpouring of grief in the local and broader Jewish community. Vigils were held, and prayers circulated online. Mayor Eric Adams and other city officials visited the Saada family to offer condolences.

Saada and her daughters were flown to Israel for burial at Har HaMenuchot cemetery in Jerusalem. Philip remains in recovery from his injuries.

A Call for Reform

In the wake of the tragedy, local leaders are calling for new laws to address so-called “super speeders”—drivers with an excessive number of traffic infractions and reckless behavior behind the wheel.

“This wasn’t just a tragedy—it was preventable,” said one Brooklyn lawmaker. “We need to do more to ensure people with dangerous driving records aren’t allowed behind the wheel.”

As the case unfolds, the focus remains on justice for the Saada family—and on preventing future tragedies on New York’s streets.

Source: timesofisrael