A woman died when her car was struck, overturned and caught fire on West Street near Laight Street in Tribeca. Photo: Carl Glassman/Tribeca Trib
A woman died in a fiery four-car crash on West Street, near Hubert, Saturday morning. Police arrested the 37-year-old male driver of a black Audi who they say was speeding and swerving before striking the woman's Honda CRV. The car overturned and caught fire, ending in a mangled heap near Laight Street. Authorities identified the victim as Amy Phillipson, 57, of Marine Park in Brooklyn. She had been driving to her job at FedEx, where she was a customer service representative.
.jpg "With hands cuffed behind his back, Sherman Harrison is taken from the scene of the collision on West Street where police say his speeding Audi went out of control, killing the driver of a Honda and injuring three others, including himself. Harrison was charged with manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident. Photo: Carl Glassman/Tribeca Trib")
The driver of the Audi, Sherman Harrison of Maryland, tried to flee the scene before being arrested and taken to Bellevue Hospital with minor injuries, according to police. He is being held without bail after being charged with manslaughter, leaving the scene of an incident and posession of ammunition. Police say they found a Glock magazine in the car with 17 rounds.
The crash also involved a 68-year-old woman in a Honda and a man, 28, in a Toyota pickup truck. Both were taken to Lower Manhattan Hospital with minor injuries. Two parked vehicles also were struck.
One witness, a cleaner for Hudson River Park, said he heard the crash and turned around. “I saw this car, sliding on its side, and went up in flames,” he said. The man, who declined to give his name, said construction workers in the area estimated the car was going between 80 and 100 miles an hour. “They said, ‘Holy sh—, he’s going to kill somebody.”
An investigation of the crash is underway.
.jpg "Two of the vehicles involved in the four-car crash on West Street Saturday morning. Photo: Carl Glassman/Tribeca Trib")
.jpg "Police say Sherman Harrison of Maryland was driving this Audi, swerving and speeding on West Street, when he caused a four-car collision that killed a woman. Photo: Carl Glassman/Tribeca Trib")