Cops Searching For Stolen Phone That Sparked Deadly Chase In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A police chase ended in a deadly crash in Queens Thursday.
As CBS2's Ali Bauman reported, police confirmed that an elderly woman who was driving her car in the Cambria Heights section of Queens died when a car being pursued by police crashed into her.
Police said they were trying to pull over a suspect in a robbery driving a BMW sports-utility vehicle, 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported. Police believed the suspect had stolen a cellphone.
As the vehicle approached the intersection of Linden Boulevard and 225th Street, it collided with a Saturn sedan, Jones reported and flipped over. Both vehicles ended up on a lawn.
As CBS2's Valerie Castro reported, surveillance footage shows the crash unfold.
Police rushed toward the suspect as he came out of the flipped car.
"You know we heard something go boom! A big explosion, that's what we hear – boom!" Yvonne Gardener said. "And I run outside, I look. I see the police taking the gun from his waist and banging the glass to get the guy out."
Police said the suspect ran a red light before crashing into the Saturn, and leaving 78-year-old Roxina Clayton dead.
"The police was standing over her trying to revive her. He was trying to pump her with the pumper, but she didn't respond," Gardener said.
Police soon took the struggling driver away into custody. But even with him off the street, witnesses could not shake the death of one woman who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"It could have been anyone," said Arielle Dupiton. "It could have been a kid. It could have been one of us coming to work. So it's really unfortunate."
The suspect was identified as Derrick Perkins, 51, according to NYPD Queens South Chief David Barrere.
"He has 10 priors that include robbery assault grand larceny and murder," Barrere said of the suspect. "He is currently serving lifetime parole for murder and is recently released after serving four months for parole violation."
Authorities pulled away Perkins' mangled car. The cell phone he is accused of stealing hasn't been found.
Police put up a message board at the scene asking anyone who witnessed the crash to give them a call.
The woman who was killed in the crash was identified as Roxina Clayton of Queens.
Charges were pending against Perkins late Thursday.