An individual who was being sought by law enforcement, pretending to be a professional driver, had three female passengers in his vehicle and came dangerously close to hitting police officers during a high-speed pursuit through the Queens-Midtown Tunnel during peak traffic hours, according to authorities on Friday.
Dramatic footage captures the intense scene as law enforcement officers strategically position themselves around the Jeep Grand Cherokee, effectively trapping it within the East River crossing. The driver, in a desperate attempt to flee, is met with the terrified cries of the hostages inside.
A pursuit started shortly after 9 a.m. on Wednesday when an officer from the MTA Police Department attempted to stop the driver on the Queens side of the tunnel. This was part of an investigation focused on “ghost vehicles,” which are cars with fraudulent registrations, as per officials.
Instead, the driver, who is 33 years old, abruptly hit the brakes and skillfully maneuvered around several uniformed police officers standing in the traffic lane and swiftly entered the tunnel — just hours before a significant leak occurred at the crossing.
The NYPD stated that the Jeep drove over a line of traffic cones, causing other task force officers to quickly move out of the way of the oncoming SUV.
A group of officers chased after the driver, skillfully maneuvering through the chaotic traffic, as captured by a police car’s dashcam camera. The patrol car swiftly intercepted the fleeing SUV mere moments after another officer successfully halted the driver in the left lane.
The driver attempted to maneuver around the vehicle, but the two police cars swiftly positioned themselves to obstruct his Jeep.
The driver was apprehended in a mere 1 minute and 50 seconds, but his efforts to escape didn’t stop there. The Bronx man put up a fight, flailing his arms in an attempt to avoid being handcuffed. However, the police managed to remove him from his seat.
The backseat of the vehicle held three distressed passengers: two sisters, aged 65 and 67, from Westchester County, along with the elder woman’s 45-year-old daughter.
According to the statement from the NYPD, everyone was in a state of extreme distress, with tears flowing uncontrollably.
Shortly after, the women, who were clearly shaken, informed the officers in an NYPD van that they had contacted a medical transport company earlier that day to schedule a ride to Midtown Manhattan for a doctor’s appointment, according to the department.
The driver, whose identity was not disclosed by the authorities, had his license suspended on multiple occasions. Additionally, he was being actively pursued by NYPD detectives in the Bronx for his alleged involvement in a domestic assault incident last month.
The Jeep itself was not authorized for street use, as it had counterfeit plates, an invalid VIN, expired inspection and registration, and other violations.
Three women were injured during the chase and received medical treatment at a hospital in Westchester. During the incident, both an NYPD officer and an MTA officer sustained minor injuries while attempting to apprehend the driver.
They have been treated and released from the hospital.
The driver is now facing multiple charges, including assault on a police officer, unlawful imprisonment, reckless engagement, failing to obey a traffic device, and more. Additionally, there are numerous charges related to his traffic infractions.
Another incident added to the chaos on the Queens side of the tunnel on Wednesday. Hours after the police chase, a drilling contractor unintentionally created a hole in the roof, leading to a sudden downpour that left drivers terrified.
