Police chase ends in car accident in New York

One person is dead, and two others have been injured following a police chase in Long Island, according to local sources. New York authorities responded to a violent car accident on the night of Nov. 2. The driver responsible has been charged with assault, manslaughter and operating a vehicle without a license. No court date has been set as of this report.

According to the police report, two plainclothes officers pursued a speeding vehicle around 8:15 p.m. When the vehicle came to a stop, one of the officers approached the car to pull over the driver. The 45-year-old man behind the wheel instead fled the scene in his car. After a brief chase, his vehicle collided with another car, causing serious damage to both vehicles and crashing through a fence onto a private front yard.

The man’s 33-year-old passenger suffered head trauma and was reported dead at the scene. The 24-year-old driver of the other vehicle suffered a broken jaw and was taken to a local hospital. The 45-year-old man sustained injuries to his leg and head. He now stands charged with manslaughter, as well as several other charges. This adds to his list of 22 prior arrests.

Considering the circumstances of the car accident, it seems likely the man will face jail time for his role in the crash. Additionally, the family of the deceased passenger, as well as the injured driver, are entitled under New York state law to file personal injury and/or wrongful death suits against him in civil court. Evidence gathered by police for the criminal proceedings can also be used to support civil suits.

Source: NBC New York, “1 Dead, 2 Injured in Violent Crash After Police Pursuit on Long Island“, Katherine Creag, Nov. 3, 2016