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Thomas Chase dies in car crash in Brighton, NY

A 92-year-old Brighton man died Thursday afternoon after a police chase that began in Rochester and ended with a high-speed crash at a busy Brighton intersection.

Rochester Police Chief David Smith on Friday morning detailed the 8-minute chase and fatal crash that killed Thomas Chase of Brighton.

What was the first call?

Rochester Police were called to Maria and Bernard Streets around 3:30 p.m. Thursday to investigate a report of numerous shots being fired in the area. They encountered a 19-year-old boy fleeing on foot after crashing a stolen, bullet-riddled car on Maria Street, near Clifford Avenue, before jumping into another stolen vehicle, which then backed up at a high rate of speed, nearly striking a Rochester Police Officer. The vehicle fled the scene across a vacant lot.

About the persecution in Rochester, NY

Three teenagers, ages 17, 18 and 19, fled the scene in the stolen car and officers “engaged them in a chase” that first went through Rochester's Clinton neighborhood, then continued to East Avenue and finally to Brighton, said Captain Greg Bello of the Rochester Police Department.

The pursuit lasted about eight minutes and ended with the fatal accident, Smith said.

Fatal accident in Brighton, NY

The stolen car was traveling southeast on East Avenue when it collided with an uninvolved car turning onto Elmwood Avenue. Chase, the driver of the car, was pronounced dead at the scene, Smith said.

Chase was a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and was active in volunteering in the Rochester community, Smith said.

Smith said he prayed the Lord's Prayer at the scene of the accident for Chase, who lay alone in his damaged car, covered with a blanket.

“He leaves behind a devastated family who are now having to pick up the pieces because, once again, teenagers are driving recklessly in a stolen car,” Smith said at the press conference.

The teens, whose identities were not released by police, were also injured in the crash and taken to Strong Memorial Hospital for treatment of serious injuries, which were not considered life-threatening, Smith said.

Smith described the intersection of East, Linden and Elmwood Avenue immediately after the collision as an extremely “chaotic” scene.

Was anyone arrested?

As of Friday afternoon, no charges had been filed in connection with the accident, Smith said, but charges are still pending.

The RPD Major Crimes Unit and the Monroe County District Attorney's Office are working together to determine what charges are appropriate.

Who was driving the stolen car?

A 17-year-old boy who was on probation for burglary was behind the wheel of the stolen car during the chase and crash, Smith said. Smith described the teen as a “career criminal” who was very well known to police and had a long criminal record.

He initially told officers at the scene that he was “his 13-year-old younger brother to hide his criminal past,” Smith said. Captain Frank Umbrino of the Rochester Police Department also said the teenager faces charges in Erie County related to a car theft and chase last month.

Police did not release his name or identify the other two teenagers in the stolen car.

The driver, Smith said, was arrested last year for at least 12 burglaries in the city of Rochester, where he drove a stolen vehicle into store windows and stole items from it.

Which authority is investigating?

The New York State Attorney General's office will lead the police chase investigation and examine the actions of RPD officers and state police in connection with the pursuit that resulted in an accident, Bello said. The RPD's Major Crimes Division will also investigate the actions of the three teens and the cause of death.

New York State Police assisted Rochester police with the pursuit and are assisting in the investigation. A handgun was recovered (on Alphonse Street) in connection with the investigation. RPD will also review its pursuit police, Smith said.

Anyone with information about the chase or crash is asked to call RPD's Major Crimes Unit at (585) 428-7157 or email [email protected].

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