News 12 has learned exclusive new details in a fatal three-car crash in Woodbury following a police pursuit Friday night.
Hafiz and Shathe Ahmed’s 18-year-old son, Esam, says his parents were killed during the incident on Route 6 when a car running from police crashed into them.
State police have not identified the victims but say the driver who killed two people rear-ended their vehicle at approximately 10 p.m., causing the victims to crash head-on into a third car.
Authorities say the pursuit was called off before the collision. Recorded police transmissions listened to by News 12 indicate the chase ended roughly two minutes before the Ahmed’s were hit.
“White four-door sedan, tinted out windows going 100+ mph. I’m not going to be able to keep up with him,” says the law enforcement agent in pursuit.
State police said say the suspected vehicle, a 2019 Infiniti, was seen speeding by a New York State Parks officer who tried to pull the vehicle over. They say the operator failed to comply, fled, crashed and that two suspects then took off on foot.
The incident garnered a massive law enforcement response including police K-9s, drones and a helicopter while police searched for the suspects in the woods of nearby Harriman State Park.
State police say the driver in a third car suffered minor injuries.
Esam Ahmed started one of two GoFundMe pages for his family that have raised more than $30,000, and says he learned his parents’ fate the next day.
“On that morning, I became an adult, the bearer of their dreams and the protector of my sister,” Esam Ahmed says.
His 10-year-old sister was with their parents and is in critical condition, according to Esam Ahmed who says he was also supposed to be in the car that night but wasn’t.
“My mom called to ask if I was coming home to go with them to our new house, and if not, to eat the kebabs she made for me in the fridge,” Esam Ahmed says. “My dad called me telling me our cat misses me, and asking me to come home with them. I told them I’d make the next trip.”
The family have ties to Nassau County, according to a GoFundme started by the Bengali American Boldest Association, an organization that supports active and retired members of the New York City Department of Correction, and the Nassau Bangladeshi Community.
Police say the couple were driving westbound on Route 6 when they were struck. They were pronounced dead at the scene. Their daughter was taken to Westchester Medical Center.
The two suspects involved in the fatal crash were located, according to State police, but authorities say no one has been arrested.