A man driving a stolen box truck led police on a wild chase through Staten Island Thursday that sent two police officers to the hospital and left two dozen damaged cars in its wake, police said.
An NYPD patrol car was dragged roughly 40 feet after the 48-year-old driver smashed the stolen vehicle into the pursuing cruisers at one point during the intense pursuit.
The incident kicked off at 5:15 p.m. when officers potted the WB Mason delivery truck at the intersection of Bishop Street and Cranford Avenue in the Richmond neighborhood, according to NYPD officials.
The truck was reported stolen out of New Jersey after the driver had allegedly carjacked and ditched at least two other vehicles earlier in the day.
“It’s believed he was committing crimes all day both back and forth,” an NYPD spokesperson said.
Officers tried to initiate a lawful traffic stop, but the suspect instead reversed the stolen truck and slammed into three patrol cars, snagging one of the cruisers and dragging it half the length of a tennis court before it was freed, cops said.
At least one cruiser collided head-on into a street sign during the pursuit.
The car thief continued driving the stolen delivery truck “recklessly” for another five miles, striking at least 25 civilian cars, before finally grinding to a halt, according to police.
The driver was taken into custody, though his charges are still pending.
He is wanted for “numerous” crimes in both Staten Island and New Jersey, including at least three car thefts, police said.
Two police officers were treated at a local hospital for minor injuries, and fortunately, there were no civilian injuries reported.
The investigation is ongoing.
The chase comes several months after NYPD brass warned against engaging in high-speed pursuits, citing civilian safety concerns.
A vehicle pursuit must be terminated whenever the risk to members of the service and the public outweighs the danger to the community if the suspect is not immediately apprehended,” department leadership said in an August memo.
