Mother, two children killed while crossing the street in Brooklyn multi-vehicle crash; 10 injured
MIDWOOD, Brooklyn (WABC) -- A mother and her two children were killed by a car crash as they were crossing a street in Brooklyn on Saturday, and a third child was critically injured.
"I will call it like it is. This was a horrific tragedy caused by someone who shouldn't have been on the road," Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters. "A mother and two young children killed. Another child fighting for his life. A family and a neighborhood devastated."
The accident happened on Ocean Parkway off Quentin Road in Midwood just after 1 p.m. A total of 10 people, including six children, were removed to various hospitals in the collision.
Tisch said the Audi rear-ended a Toyota Camry. The 63-year-old driver of the Toyota suffered minor injuries, as did a 35-year-old woman, a four-year-old girl, a five-year-old boy, and a 12-year-old boy in the car.
The collision sent the Audi into the pedestrians, who were in the crosswalk before the vehicle overturned, authorities said.
The 34-year-old woman and her six and eight-year-old daughters were pronounced dead at the scene, and the four-year-old boy was hospitalized in critical condition.
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 in stable condition.
Mayor 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.
Anthony Carlo reports from the scene in Midwood:
"Horrifying. I mean -- I'm not even processing it right now, you know what I mean?" said Robin, an eyewitness.
Robin's father, an EMT, rushed to Ocean Parkway to find an utterly devastating crash with one vehicle overturned.
Residents say speed is a constant issue on Ocean Parkway.
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.
Authorities were investigating whether she ran a red light and whether speed was a factor, and they also were doing a preliminary breath test for possible intoxication.
Mayor Adams planned to visit the family of the deceased in the hospital.
No arrests have been made at this time.
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Some information from the Associated Press
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