Day: March 4, 2025

Three people were killed in car crashes in Brooklyn in just three days last week, according to the NYPD.

One pedestrian and two passengers died in three separate incidents in East New York, Downtown Brooklyn and Williamsburg from Feb. 27 through March 1. 

On Thursday, Feb. 27, a 32-year-old man, later identified as Tyree Epps, was driving his 2008 Mercedes-Benz southbound on Van Sinderen Avenue at about 1:16 p.m., per the NYPD. Epps allegedly ran a stop sign at Blake Avenue, entered the intersection, and struck the rear passenger side of a school bus — which then rammed into a box truck parked nearby. 

The crash left Epps’ passenger, 26-year-old Imani Vance of Saratoga Avenue, with severe head trauma. Vance was rushed to Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead. The school bus driver, a 57-year-old woman, was also hospitalized in stable condition on Thursday. 

Epps allegedly fled the scene, leaving his car behind, but was later arrested on charges including manslaughter, driving without a license, failure to stop at a stop sign, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. 

A day later, a 45-year-old woman was struck and killed after she reportedly stepped out of a car on Flatbush Avenue.

Cops said Brooklyn resident Trisha Chiriboga opened the rear passenger side door of a 2024 Cadillac sitting at a red light at the corner of Flatbush Avenue and State Street just after 11 p.m. on Feb. 28.

Chiriboga was then struck by a 29-year-old man driving a Chevrolet Malibu southbound on Flatbush Avenue. Emergency medical personnel brought her to New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Both drivers remained on the scene, and no arrests have been made. An investigation by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad is ongoing.

Hours later, just before 4 a.m. on March 1, a pedestrian — who has not yet been identified — was crossing Withers Street at the intersection of Woodpoint Avenue in Williamsburg at 3:57 a.m. when he crouched down to pick something up, police said. 

At the same time, the 49-year-old driver of a Mack dump truck was turning right from Woodpoint Road onto Withers Street and struck the pedestrian.The driver left the scene, according to the NYPD. The victim was taken to NYC Health+Hospitals/Elmhurst in critical condition, and later died from his injuries. 

An investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have yet been made. 

So far this year, there have been 28 traffic fatalities across New York City, per NYPD statistics, down 31% from the same time last year. Nine people have been killed in traffic incidents Brooklyn.