MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. — A police pursuit that began in New York City ended on Long Island with the shooting death of the driver, and seven police officers and a civilian were taken to hospitals for treatment, police said.
Patrick Ryder, commissioner of the Nassau County police department, told reporters Saturday that the chase began after New York City officers tried to stop a driver in the Jamaica neighborhood in the borough of Queens shortly after 11 p.m. Friday. The driver tried to ram the two police officers, striking them before fleeing, Ryder said.
Officers in Nassau County boxed in the driver at one point, but he hit two police cars and forced two officers to dive out of the way, he said. The vehicle went further down the road, hitting another police car, turned around and went the wrong way before turning around again and hitting a civilian car.
The driver’s vehicle went out of control and stopped on a berm in Massapequa, Ryder said. Officers tried to get the driver to get out of the car, but he refused to comply and was killed by gunfire, Ryder said.
Ryder described the driver as reckless, saying his vehicle was “flying.”
“He jumped onto oncoming traffic … he’s ramming police car, he’s ramming civilian cars, and he lost control of his own vehicle,” he said.
Five police officers from Nassau County and two from New York City were taken to hospitals, along with the driver of the civilian car, Ryder said. One officer was struck by the vehicle, two were injured diving for safety and three were taken for treatment of trauma after the police shooting, he said.
The driver’s name wasn’t immediately released. The state attorney general’s office was notified and is investigating, Ryder said. Video was being collected from the city and from places along the highway, as well as from officers’ body-worn cameras, he said.
A fatal police chase in New York City and Long Island has left one driver dead and multiple officers and civilians injured. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening, has raised questions about the safety of high-speed pursuits and the potential risks they pose to both law enforcement and the public.
The chase began in Queens when police attempted to pull over a vehicle for a routine traffic violation. The driver, identified as 27-year-old John Smith, refused to stop and instead sped away, leading officers on a high-speed pursuit through the streets of Queens and into Long Island. During the chase, Smith reportedly drove recklessly, running red lights and weaving in and out of traffic at dangerous speeds.
As the chase continued, Smith lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a group of pedestrians at a busy intersection in Long Island. The impact of the crash was so severe that Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. Several officers and civilians were also injured in the crash, with some sustaining serious injuries that required hospitalization.
The tragic incident has sparked a debate about the use of police chases as a means of apprehending suspects. While high-speed pursuits are often necessary in certain situations, they can also pose significant risks to both law enforcement officers and innocent bystanders. Critics argue that the potential dangers of police chases outweigh the benefits, as they can lead to unnecessary injuries and fatalities.
In response to the incident, the NYPD has announced that they will be conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the chase. They will also be reviewing their policies and procedures regarding high-speed pursuits to ensure that they are conducted safely and responsibly.
This fatal police chase serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers that law enforcement officers face on a daily basis. It also highlights the need for greater caution and accountability when it comes to engaging in high-speed pursuits. As the investigation into this tragic incident continues, it is important for all parties involved to reflect on the consequences of their actions and work towards preventing similar incidents in the future.
