Witnesses Recount 'Terrifying' Wrong-Way Crash On Major Deegan Expressway
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A wild police pursuit that started in Manhattan ended in a crash on the Major Deegan Expressway in the Bronx on Thursday morning.
Officers began chasing a silver Nissan after determining there were stolen plates on the car, 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reported.
1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reports
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Officers pursued the car over the Triboro Bridge and through three precincts before ending up on the Major Deegan Expressway.
Witnesses said the car made a U-turn on the Deegan and started going north on the southbound side before crashing into several vehicles near Willis Avenue, Papa reported.
Frances Dewey, a salesperson for a Catholic publishing company, said she was stunned to find herself in the middle of a wild police chase.
"It was terrifying," Dewey told CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez.
When the suspect led police onto the southbound lane of the Deegan, he cut off Dewey and Matt Sumers.
"I swerved over to the shoulder after he hit me. We broadsided him and once I pulled over, I mean, he spun in like right in here and he started backing up and I hit him again," Dewey said.
The suspects car then spun into the path of George Grabe's truck.
"He came in front of me, I tapped him. He spun around and he kept on going in reverse," Grabe said. "Somehow further down the road there was another accident he must've hit or caused."
That's when the suspect kicked it back into drive, speeding northbound in the southbound lanes, heading straight for Dewey and Sumers again.
"Seeing this guy coming out...we were helpless we couldn't get out of the car either," Sumers said. "I just saw his face. So vivid right there. It was a sense of determination."
The 18-year-0ld struck several vehicles before finally being apprehended by police. Surprisingly no one involved suffered serious injuries. Dewey, who was heading to the Brooklyn Diocese on Thursday morning, called it divine intervention.
"I am so grateful and you just realize there is a hand there and we're all looked after and really our lives are not in our control," Dewey said.
The suspect was being held at the 25th Precinct on Thursday night.
The crash caused massive delays on the Deegan Expressway and the Bruckner Expressway.
Six civilians and three officers suffered minor injuries, police said.
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