Canarsie chase ends in crash that leaves 6 hurt, 2 critically

Friday, September 27, 2013

Stacey Sager
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Eyewitness News

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Six people are hospitalized, two in critical condition, after a collision in Brooklyn early Friday.

The crash damaged at least three cars, causing one SUV to land on its side in front of an apartment building.

The accident happened at the intersection of Avenue J and East 85th Street in the Canarsie section.

Police say the incident started as a traffic stop near the intersection of Near Flatlands Avenue and East 84th Street just after midnight, when the driver fled the scene. As police officers got out of their patrol cruiser and approached the vehicle on foot, the 22-year-old driver sped off with his three passengers.

An eyewitness said car being chased ran a red light, causing the crash.

"I have a daughter, and she was traumatized," said Canarsie resident Rose Harriott.

The SUV injured the 27-year-old man in that vehicle the most.

"That person was basically upside-down," said eyewitness Patrick Gallimore.

Many people had questions Friday, about whether such a high-speed chase through a neighborhood was necessary.

"How could they catch an individual faster, or better handle the situation?" Gallimore adds.

For Rose Harriott and her family, it is other questions about cost and cleanup. Harriott runs a small daycare operation that is now temporarily shut down.

"Well I have to turn people away, it means I am out of business," says Harriott, I can't pay my bills, I can't survive."

The driver who fled the scene and apparently caused the crash was taken into custody. He is at Brookdale Medical Center, and charges against him are pending.