NYC man is charged with insurance fraud after shocking viral dashcam video shows him reversing into car on Belt Parkway
A New York City man has been charged with staging a car accident for insurance fraud purposes, after shocking dash cam footage emerged last month of the crash.
Authorities announced on Friday that Maikel Martinez, 28, of Brooklyn, had been arraigned on Wednesday in connection with the incident.
He faces a litany of charges including criminal mischief, staging a motor vehicle accident, reckless endangerment, conspiracy and insurance fraud.
Prosecutors say Martinez was in a car whose driver cut off another car on the Belt Parkway, in Queens, and then intentionally backed into the vehicle.
Asphia Natasha was driving north when the silver Honda Civic cut in front of her. She could be heard in her dash clip, which she shared to TikTok, saying: ‘Oh my god, what is he doing’.
‘They only came out of the car with their phones ready to record the damage to both cars. They were quick to ask for my insurance and quickly left after the exchange,’ Ashipa Natasha said
Natasha was on speakerphone with her husband and said to him: ‘I just got in an accident; I don’t know what’s happening. This guy just reversed into me, what the hell is going on’
Natasha was on speakerphone with her husband and said to him: ‘I just got in an accident; I don’t know what’s happening. This guy just reversed into me, what the hell is going on?’
She wrote on her post: ‘The silver Honda was in the middle lane, and they cut me off and slammed on the brakes coming to a full stop hoping I would hit them.
‘I did not hit their car and because of that they reversed into my car for collision.’
Natasha claimed the two backseat passengers used a ‘tarp’ to cover the back windshield so the male driver could switch seats with the female passenger.
Four passengers then left the car, clutching their heads and acting as if they were injured while inspecting the damage to the bumper of their car.
Natasha said: ‘I believe the intention was to say I hit their car for insurance fraud purposes.’
One female passenger, who left the car from the driver’s side, began recording both vehicles.
The other female passenger began documenting the crash as well and taking a picture of Natasha’s license plate.
A red Kia had pulled up in front of the silver car, and picked up the suspected male driver, before driving away.
The video shows the vehicle – driven by the alleged scammers – makings its way along NYC ‘s Belt Parkway in Queens before seen here
Natasha said she recalled the remaining passenger’s demeanor had changed once they spotted her dashcam.
Natasha added in a follow-up video: ‘They were quick to exchange my license and my insurance, registration and everything so I didn’t think anything of it.’
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said: ‘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.’
Martinez has pleaded not guilty and is due back in court in January. If convicted, he faces up to 2 1/3 years to seven years in prison.
