Belt Parkway Virus Crash: Brooklyn Man Arrested, Charged with Virus Crash Over Insurance Fraud

BAY RIDGE, Brooklyn (WABC) — The passenger of the car who intentionally crashed into another driver on the Belt Boulevard earlier this month he was charged with causing a traffic accident and other crimes.

The accident was filmed on Ashpia Natasha’s dash cam and viewed tens of millions of times.

Maikel Martinez was in a car that allegedly cut off another driver on the Belt Boulevard, forcing him to stop. The car the accused was in then crashed into the victim’s car.

“The defendant and others allegedly caused an accident on a busy highway and rammed an unsuspecting driver with their vehicle after they forcibly stopped her in the left lane of the Belt Boulevard. Countless lives were put in danger because of this incredibly reckless behavior,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda. – said Katz.

Martinez, 28, of Dyker Heights, was arraigned Thursday night on charges of causing an accident, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, conspiracy and insurance fraud. He has pleaded not guilty and is due in court on January 7. If found guilty, he faces a prison sentence of 2.5 to seven years.

RELATED | NYPD is investigating Belt Parkway viral crash as possible insurance fraud

According to the charges, on October 16, 2024, at approximately 11:11 a.m., Natasha was driving north in the left lane of the Belt Boulevard in Rosedale near the Nassau County line. The woman’s car was equipped with both a front and rear camera on the dashboard.

A silver Honda Civic cut in front of Natasha’s car and stopped. The victim had to apply the brakes to avoid a collision. The Honda then quickly struck Natasha’s car, damaging both her car and the Honda. The passengers of the Honda held something similar to a plastic tarp in the area of ​​the rear window of the car, which partially blocked the driver-victim’s view inside the Honda, and the passengers of the car changed the location of the seats inside the Honda.

After the collision, four people got out of the car, including a woman who got out from the driver’s side and a man who identified himself as Maikel Martinez and said the alleged driver was his wife. The other woman and man who exited the vehicle are unknown at this time.

The footage of the accident shows Natasha’s car being followed by a red Kia Sport. Following the crash, the Kia stopped in front of the Honda and the fourth occupant of the Honda exited the vehicle and entered the Kia, which then fled the scene.

RELATED | Dashcam foils apparent insurance scam on Belt Parkway in Queens

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