Brooklyn Driver Sentenced to 3-9 Years for Fatal Crash

UPDATE: A Brooklyn wigmaker and social media influencer, Miriam Yarimi, has been sentenced to 3 to 9 years in prison for a catastrophic crash that killed a mother and her two children. The sentencing took place on Wednesday in Brooklyn, following Yarimi’s guilty plea on three counts of reckless manslaughter linked to the tragic incident in March.

Yarimi, aged 33, was visibly emotional as she faced the court, accepting full responsibility for her actions. “I hope and pray that my guilty plea, as well as my sentencing here today, will provide some degree of closure to the victims and their family members for all of the pain and suffering that my actions caused,” she stated while addressing Judge Danny Chun.

The court heard that Yarimi’s reckless driving on March 2023 led to the deaths of Natasha Saada, aged 34, and her children, Diana (8) and Deborah (5). The family was crossing Ocean Parkway after Shabbat services when tragedy struck. Her son, Philip (4), sustained critical injuries.

According to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Yarimi sped through a red light at nearly 70 mph (113 kph) in her Audi luxury sedan, smashing into a turning Toyota before colliding with the Saada family. The posted speed limit in the area is 25 mph (40 kph), and there was no evidence that she attempted to brake.

“This defendant is a reckless driver who cared about only herself when she raced in the streets of Brooklyn and wiped away nearly an entire family,” Gonzalez emphasized. The impact of the crash sent Yarimi’s vehicle flipping and coming to a stop approximately 130 feet (40 meters) away, illustrating the devastating force of the collision.

Mayor Eric Adams condemned the incident as a “tragic accident of Shakespearean proportion,” highlighting the community’s grief. “A mother gone 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 this loss,” Adams said.

Yarimi’s driving record was under scrutiny, as she was reportedly operating with a suspended license at the time of the crash. The court’s ruling reflects the serious consequences of reckless driving, aiming to deliver justice for the victims and their devastated family members.

As the community grapples with this unspeakable tragedy, the case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by reckless driving. Authorities continue to call for increased awareness and safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

For ongoing updates, stay tuned as this story develops.