A pregnant woman and her mother are dead after a suspect crashed into their car while trying to evade police in Florida, according to multiple outlets.
Neoni Copeland, 23, had been traveling in Boynton Beach in a Kia Stinger at a high rate of speed when his car crashed into a blue Toyota Corolla around 8:10 p.m. local time on Tuesday, July 30, police told CBS 12 News, WPTV and WFLX.
The Toyota Corolla had been attempting to turn when the collision happened, authorities told the outlets. Following the crash, Copeland allegedly attempted to flee the scene on foot before he was arrested by responding officers.
Police said that the driver of the Toyota Corolla, 27-year-old Jenice Woods, and her mother, 57-year-old Marcia Pochette, were taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
Junel Pochette, Woods’ father and Marcia’s husband, told CBS12 News that his daughter had been two months pregnant at the time of the crash. “Two and a half lives were taken away from me: my daughter, my wife, my future grandchild,” he said. “We were looking forward to a new grandbaby.”
Lorna Reynolds, a neighbor of Woods and the Pochette family, told WPTV that the deaths “were a sad moment for all of us.”
“At this stage, [Woods] was preparing to be a mother, and her mother was going to be a grandmother, so this was very, very heartbreaking for all of us,” Reynolds added.
The Boynton Beach Police Department told WPTV and WFLX that Copeland had fled from West Palm Beach police officers shortly before the crash.
The West Palm Beach Police Department confirmed to WPTV that they initiated an internal affairs investigation on Wednesday, July 31, into the crash. Seven officers have been put on administrative leave amid the investigation, according to WPTV and WPBF.
Sources told WPBF that officers may have broken the department’s pursuit policies by chasing Copeland.
“While there are many questions and few answers at this time, we need to let the facts lead us to the outcome of the investigation,” West Palm Beach Police Chief Frank Adderley told the outlets in a statement. “We are cooperating with the Boynton Beach Police Department and are committed to full transparency.”
The Boynton Beach Police Department and West Palm Beach Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Copeland faces charges of resisting arrest and leaving the scene of a crash causing fatality, according to WFLX and WPTV. Police told the outlets that additional charges may be added through their investigation.
Copeland is currently being held without bail in Palm Beach County jail, per WPTV. It is not immediately clear if he has legal representative to comment on his behalf.
Police are doing their job. If every time someone was fleeing and the police didn’t go after them very few would be caught. The only one to blame in this scumbag and he should never be let out.
Neoni has a bleached blonde, white girlfriend.
Oops — just BLAME the police (not bland)!
So they’ll most likely punish the officers more severely than the scum who fled, then killed three persons. I suppose they’re to just let criminals flee and continue breaking the law. “Let’s not capture the criminals! Just bland the police!” Please! We have gotten ridiculous. People don’t want criminals, but they’re more concerned with defunding the police than apprehending the criminals – until it’s them who need the police. Then they’re the first ones they call. My suggestion is when they need a police officer, have a problem, or are in trouble, call a criminal. See how much help they get.
If they wanted to save money they would use 2 police cars. One in front and one in back so no one could take off. The damage done is when there is a police pursuit. Out on the Freeway, they should use the new bungee rear wheel lockups. Stop the deaths due to police chases.
If I was to print what I am thinking it would kick me out.
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