Flatbush Shabbos Tragedy: Mother and Two Daughters Killed by Driver with Suspended License

By: Fern Sidman

In what has been described as an unspeakable tragedy, the Orthodox Jewish community of Flatbush is reeling from the devastating loss of a mother and her two young daughters, who were killed on Shabbos afternoon while walking home from shul. As reported extensively by Yeshiva World News (YWN), the horrific accident occurred shortly after 1:00 p.m. on Ocean Parkway near Quentin Road, when a driver with a suspended license lost control of her vehicle and plowed into the family.

First responders, including Hatzolah, were quick to arrive at the scene. As described by YWN, the chaotic aftermath required rapid medical intervention and emotional support for witnesses and family members.

The victims have been identified as Natasha (Sara) Saada A”H, 35, and her daughters, Diana Saada A”H, 7, and Debra Saada A”H, 5. A fourth child, the family’s 4-year-old son, remains in critical condition at Maimonides Hospital in Borough Park. His Hebrew name is Pinchas Raphael ben Sarah, and Tehillim is urgently requested on his behalf.

According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the fatal sequence began when a black Audi, driven by 32-year-old Miriam Yarimi, struck a Toyota Camry being operated by a 62-year-old Uber driver. After the initial impact, Yarimi’s Audi spiraled out of control and careened into a pedestrian crosswalk where the Saada family was walking.

In an instant, the lives of a mother and two children were extinguished. A peaceful Shabbos afternoon was turned into a scene of terror and heartbreak, shaking not just those who witnessed it but the entire community.

Commissioner Tisch, visibly shaken at a press conference on the scene, said: “This was a horrific tragedy caused by someone who shouldn’t have been on the road. A mother and two young children killed, another child fighting for his life, a family and neighborhood devastated in an instant.”

As noted in the Yeshiva World News report, the Saadas were simply walking home from synagogue — a sacred routine — when their lives were cruelly and senselessly cut short.

The NYPD confirmed that Miriam Yarimi’s license had been suspended prior to the crash, and authorities are continuing to investigate whether criminal charges will be filed. Her vehicle bore the personalized plate “WIGM8KER,” referencing her profession as a wigmaker. According to public records cited by The New York Times, her car had accumulated over $1,300 in parking and traffic violations since December, including citations for speeding in a school zone.

Further revelations have sparked outrage and deep concern. Reports indicate that Yarimi had previously won a $2 million settlement from the NYPD after alleging she was raped by a police officer as a minor — a claim substantiated in court documents. That settlement has reportedly funded a lavish lifestyle, while raising urgent questions about the responsibility and oversight of individuals with a demonstrated disregard for traffic safety.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, grief has enveloped the Flatbush community. Neighbors, friends, and fellow community members gathered near the crash site to say Tehillim, offer support, and try to process the unfathomable loss.

As detailed by Yeshiva World News, the Saada family had just moved to the area and were quickly embraced by their tight-knit religious neighborhood. At the time of the accident, Natasha’s husband was reportedly at home with their infant, completely unaware that his wife and three children were involved in the disaster only blocks away.

“This isn’t just a tragedy. It’s a spiritual earthquake,” one neighbor told YWN, her voice choked with emotion. “They were a beautiful family. Always together. Always smiling. We don’t understand Hashem’s plan, but our hearts are shattered.”

In total, nine people were injured in the crash. In addition to the four Saada children, The NYT reported that Yarimi was taken to hospital in Sunset Park and the Uber driver was taken to Coney Island Hospital in stable condition. Authorities have indicated that both drivers will undergo toxicology testing. Meanwhile, three Uber passengers — an adult and two children — were transported to Kings County Hospital, also in stable condition.

The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is actively examining surveillance footage, vehicle telemetry, and witness statements as part of their comprehensive investigation. The decision on whether to charge Yarimi is expected in the coming days.

As the facts unfold, pressure is mounting from the public and community leaders for swift and serious legal accountability. The revelation that Yarimi was driving on a suspended license — combined with her car’s extensive violation history — has intensified calls for reform and stricter enforcement of traffic violations in New York City.

As of now, no charges have been filed, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation. However, community members — many of whom turned out in large numbers for an emergency gathering organized in memory of the Saada family — are demanding answers and justice.

Details of the funeral arrangements for Natasha, Diana, and Debra Saada A”H will be shared by Yeshiva World News once confirmed.

According to official NYPD data cited by The New York Times, 35 people have died in traffic-related incidents across New York City in 2024, a 42% decrease compared to the same period in 2023. Last year saw an unusually high number of pedestrian deaths — a trend city officials had hoped was beginning to reverse. But while statistics may show improvement, the heartbreaking events in Flatbush reveal that individual tragedies can still shatter lives and erode public trust.

In a press conference following the incident, New York City Mayor Eric Adams described the crash in dramatic terms. “This is a tragic, tragic accident of a Shakespearean proportion,” he said, as reported by The New York Times. “A mother going for a simple stroll on a sunny day was struck and killed. This is extremely concerning and painful.”

Mayor Adams’ comments reflected not just the sorrow felt citywide, but also the sheer disbelief that a licensed-suspended driver was on the road — endangering others in blatant defiance of the law.

As detailed in the Yeshiva World News report, police are continuing to investigate the precise cause of the crash. Preliminary information suggests that Yarimi, the driver of the black Audi, may have been speeding, and investigators are determining whether she ran a red light. Crucially, authorities are also examining whether alcohol or drug use played a role in the incident.

Yarimi’s license had been suspended prior to the crash — a fact that, according to YWN, is fueling outrage in the community. The failure to prevent such individuals from operating vehicles — especially in densely populated neighborhoods — is now under renewed scrutiny. If enforcement lapses are to blame, the consequences have proven catastrophic.

City officials previously credited automated speed cameras and red-light cameras with contributing to a drop in pedestrian fatalities, as reported by The New York Times. However, experts have cautioned that many drivers have found ways to evade penalties — often by obscuring or altering their license plates. These tactics undermine the effectiveness of automated enforcement systems and allow dangerous drivers to remain undetected.

In response, the NYPD has launched multiple crackdowns in 2024 targeting license plate violations and traffic scofflaws. Yet, as the Flatbush tragedy shows, such efforts may not be enough.

This incident has done more than claim lives — it has exposed systemic weaknesses in how the city tracks and penalizes dangerous drivers. Even as Mayor Adams and the NYPD tout declining fatalities, the events of this past Shabbos afternoon suggest that reliance on technology alone is insufficient without enforcement and accountability.

A car with numerous violations, driven by someone with a suspended license, should not have been operating in a pedestrian-heavy area — especially not on a sunny weekend afternoon, when families are walking home from religious services. The Saada family was doing just that when their lives were abruptly destroyed.

The incident now stands as a painful reminder that one failure in traffic enforcement is one too many.