Brooklyn Man Arrested in Connection to Belt Parkway Crash
ROSEDALE, Queens (WABC) — A man from Brooklyn has been arrested and charged with orchestrating a car accident on the Belt Parkway. The incident, which was caught on video, went viral after being shared on social media.
Maikel Martinez, 28, of Dyker Heights, was arraigned on Thursday night. He faces charges of staging a motor vehicle accident, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, conspiracy, and insurance fraud. Martinez pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to return to court on January 7. If convicted, he could face a prison sentence of up to seven years.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz stated, “The defendant and others allegedly staged a crash on a busy highway and rammed an unsuspecting driver with their vehicle after they forcibly stopped her in the left lane of the Belt Parkway. Countless lives were jeopardized due to this incredibly reckless conduct.”
According to court documents, the staged accident occurred on October 16, 2024, at approximately 11:11 a.m. Ashpia Natasha was driving north in the left lane of the Belt Parkway near the Nassau County border. Her vehicle was equipped with both front and rear dash cameras.
Image of the Honda Civic involved in the crash, showing damage
The silver Honda Civic abruptly cut in front of Natasha’s vehicle and came to a stop, forcing her to brake. The Honda then reversed into her car, causing damage to both vehicles. The occupants of the Honda held up a plastic tarp in the rear window area, partially obscuring the view, and switched their seating positions after the collision.
Following the collision, four people exited the Honda including a woman who claimed to be the driver and a man who identified himself as Maikel Martinez. The man stated the purported driver was ‘his wife’. Another woman and man exited the vehicle but were not identified.
Footage from the scene also showed a red Kia Sport following Natasha’s car. After the crash, the Kia stopped in front of the Honda. One occupant from the Honda entered the Kia, which then drove away.
Katz urges anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a staged car crash to contact the NYPD Office of Fraudulent Collision Investigation Squad at 718-822-5403, or the Queens DA Consumer Fraud Helpline at 718-286-6673.
