Police Chase Ends with Three Dead, Two Injured

Police chase ends

MIDDLE ISLAND, NY – According to Abc7ny.com, three people died in a car crash in Suffolk County when a teen driving a stolen vehicle crashed into another vehicle that was making a left turn. The teen was allegedly operating a stolen Nissan Rogue at the time of the crash.

Just minutes prior to the deadly collision, a police officer witnessed the Nissan drive through an intersection without stopping at the stop sign. The officer reported that the person operating the Rogue was driving erratically. The officer attempted to make a stop, but the driver fled the scene. The officer then followed the Rogue.

At about 11:50 in the evening, the Rogue struck a Honda CRV that was trying to make a left turn. A couple who had just been celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary was in the CRV. Both Jerry and Randee Weingarten were killed in the crash and pronounced dead at the scene. Jerry, 72, and Randee, 71, had 3 children and 6 grandchildren.

The teen driving the stolen vehicle, Nahriek Belford, 17, survived the collision with serious injuries. Belford’s brother, Angelo Belford, also died in the crash. Another passenger in the Nissan was seriously injured.

Belford is facing charges in relation to the incident, including reckless endangerment, and additional charges are expected.

The police are asking for anyone with information about the collision to come forward.

The Suffolk police are also looking into whether the police chase protocol was adhered to by the officer who pursued the vehicle. There was only one officer in the vehicle at the time. The commissioner says that because the driver was traveling in a reckless manner and “appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” there were “circumstances that permitted a pursuit.”