Neighbours shocked as police chase in Brighton ends in fatal accident

Brighton, NY (WHAM) — Neighbors were shocked after a police chase ended in a fatal crash at the intersection of East, Elmwood and Linden Avenue Thursday afternoon.

Broken glass and parts of two cars lay on the road directly across from the Brighton Fire Station near Exit 23 on Interstate 490. An elderly man was killed when the young driver of a stolen car rammed his vehicle, according to police.

BACKGROUND: Man dies in Rochester police chase that ends in crash in Brighton

Neighbor Larry Ray said accidents happen in the area from time to time, but the noise from this accident particularly stood out to him.

“It was one of the loudest bangs I've ever heard,” Ray said. “I thought maybe something exploded.”

Rochester police said officers were pursuing a stolen Kia when it collided with another car, killing the driver.

It all started with a report of shots fired on Maria Street around 3:15 p.m. Rochester police said officers were pursuing the suspect, a 13-year-old boy, who ran from them at the scene. The boy allegedly jumped into a car and caused an accident.

“An officer was pursuing the boy on foot when he jumped into the car,” said Captain Greg Bello of the Rochester Police Department. “At that point, the car backed up toward the officer and our officer had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck by the car.”

According to police, the teenager then got into a stolen Kia with two other teenagers and fled. Officers pursued the Kia through the city, onto East Avenue and into Brighton, where the accident occurred.

“This is sad. This is tragic,” said Bello. “The victim did not deserve this. Too often we talk about victims of violence and this is an example of that. Unfortunately tonight an innocent person was the victim of violence and the victim of these children who want to drive around in stolen cars, recklessly, in this case almost running over a police officer and also shooting guns on Maria Street. This is a sad day, especially for the family of the victim who was involved in this.”

The three teenagers, aged between 13 and 18, were taken into custody and hospitalised with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to Bello.

Brighton police said the intersection was reopened hours later. Charges against the three accused teens are not yet clear. The New York State Attorney General's Office will investigate the chase and fatal crash according to protocol.

While investigators collected evidence at several crime scenes along the chase, neighbors were speechless.

“I mean, what can you say?” Ray said. “Here's someone doing normal things and not coming home. It's just unbelievable.”