Viral Belt Parkway Crash: Brooklyn man arrested, accused of staging viral crash for insurance fraud

ROSEDALE, Queens (WABC) — The occupant of a car that purposefully backed into another driver along the Belt Parkway was charged earlier this month with staging a motor vehicle accident and other crimes.

The accident was captured on Ashpia Natasha’s dashboard camera and viewed tens of millions of times.

Maikel Martinez was in the car that allegedly cut off another driver on the Belt Parkway, forcing that driver to come to a stop. The car the suspect was in then reversed into the victim’s car.

“The defendant and others allegedly staged an accident on a busy highway and rammed an unsuspecting driver with their vehicle after forcibly stopping her in the left lane of the Belt Parkway. Countless lives were endangered by this incredibly reckless behavior,” says Queens District Attorney Melinda. Katz said.

Martinez, 28, of Dyker Heights, was indicted Thursday evening on charges of staging a motor vehicle accident, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, conspiracy and insurance fraud. He pleaded not guilty and is due in court on January 7. If convicted, he faces a prison sentence of 2.5 years to seven years.

RELATED | NYPD investigates viral Belt Parkway 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 Parkway in Rosedale, near the Nassau County border. The woman’s vehicle was equipped with both a front and rear dashboard camera.

The silver Honda Civic cut in front of Natasha’s vehicle and then came to a stop. The victim had to hit the brakes to avoid a collision. The Honda then quickly reversed into Natasha’s vehicle, damaging both her car and the Honda. The occupants of the Honda held up what appeared to be a plastic tarp in the rear window of the car, partially obstructing the view of the victim driver in the Honda, and the occupants of the vehicle switched seats in the Honda.

Four people got out of the car after the crash, 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. Another woman and man who exited the vehicle have not been identified at this time.

The images surrounding the crash showed a red Kia Sport following Natasha’s car. After the crash, the Kia stopped in front of the Honda and the fourth occupant of the Honda exited that car and entered the Kia, which then left the scene.

Katz is asking anyone who suspects they have been the victim of a staged car accident to call the NYPD Office of Fraudulent Collision Investigation Squad at 718-822-5403.

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

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