A horrifying crash in New York City caused the tragic deaths of a mother and her two daughters, ages 8 and 5, on Saturday, March 29. A woman named Miriam Yarimi, a wigmaker, who allegedly hit the family with her vehicle, has been charged with manslaughter. A 4-year-old boy, also the victim's child, is currently at a local hospital in critical condition.
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According to PEOPLE, the incident took place on Ocean Parkway in Broadway at around 1:04 p.m. on March 29. As per the New York Police Department (NYPD), Natasha Saadaher and her two daughters, 8-year-old Diana and 5-year-old Deborah, were struck by an Audi A3 and killed while they were walking.
The driver of the Audi, Miriam Yarimi, as per authorities, first collided with a 2023 Toyota Camry driven by a 63-year-old man. As a result of the first collision, Yarimi allegedly struck the family as they were walking on Ocean Parkway. Emergency services arrived and rushed Saadaher and her children to the Maimonides Medical Center. Unfortunately, Saadaher, Diana, and Deborah were pronounced dead. The 4-year-old is currently in critical condition
At the same time, Miriam Yarimi was transported to NYU Langone Hosptial-Brooklyn alongside the 63-year-old Toyota Camry driver. They were both in stable condition. Additionally, four other passengers inside the Camry, a 35-year-old man and three children, ages 4, 5, and 12, were also transported in stable condition.
Charged
According to the New York Post, Yarimi has been charged with three counts of second-degree manslaughter, three counts of criminally negligent homicide, and four counts of second-degree assault. Addittionaly, she also faces charges of reckless driving, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, failing to yield on a red light, and speeding charges.
Online records obtained from How's My Driving NY show that she has amassed a total of 99 violations since 2023.
The NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the incident a "horrific tragedy" during a press conference.
"I will call it like it is. This was a horrific tragedy caused by someone who shouldn't have been on the road," Tisch said. "A mother and two young children killed. Another child fighting for his life. A family and a neighborhood devastated."
Similarly, New York City Mayor Eric Adams called the incident a "tragic accident of Shakespearean proportion."
"To see a mother and her two children lost to a vehicle crash, this is extremely concerning and painful," Adams said. "A mother gone for a simple stroll on a sunny day was struck and killed. The city mourns this loss. I cannot imagine the pain of the family."
