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Police chase started over drugs, ended with crash killing innocent woman

Published  September 13, 2016 12:33pm EDT
US
FOX 29 Philadelphia

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (WTXF) - There was a late night tragedy when police chased a man they say was getting away "after a drug transaction in Trenton" but ended up killing a young woman.

According to Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri, at about 10pm Monday, "The New Jersey State Police Crime Suppression Unit was conducting a narcotics investigation" and "after observing what appeared to be an illegal drug transaction, Crime Suppression Units attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop on a gray Chevy Trailblazer."

That's when the SUV sped away, followed by "police with their emergency lights and siren activated. The pursuit led into Hamilton Township and the officers terminated the pursuit in the area of the Whitehorse Circle as the suspect vehicle continued north on Broad Street. At the intersection of Broad Street and Park Avenue, the suspect vehicle ran the red light and struck a black Honda Civic attempting a left hand turn on Park Avenue. The Civic was struck in the passenger side door and forced into a telephone pole."

The speed and force of the crash caused the Honda's driver -- 22-year-old Deja Farrior of Trenton - to be extricated from the vehicle, taken to the hospital, and pronounced dead.

A red Nissan that happened to be parked nearby was badly damaged. Its back window was shattered.

The SUV's driver - identified as Chandler Heaviside, 22 of Jackson - ran away on foot but was caught.

Two other people in the SUV -- Lawrence Sears, 28 of Manchester, and Harry Remington III, 25 of Brick -- each got "a summons for drug possession for a bundle of heroin located on the car floorboard." Both were injured, treated and released from the hospital.

The Trailerblazer's front end was smashed and it ended up covered in fire department foam.

Heaviside was searched, found with heroin, and charged with drug possession, death by auto while under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, causing death while driving with a suspended license, assault by auto and eluding.