NYPD to form task force to combat drag racing, highway takeovers

NEW YORK (PIX11) -- The NYPD will form a new task force to crack down on drag racing and highway takeovers in New York City, a high-ranking NYPD official told PIX11 News on Monday.

There were at least two incidents of reckless driving in the city over the weekend, according to the NYPD. A crash in the Bronx killed a 15-year-old girl, followed by the same group of drivers being responsible for shutting down the Grand Central Parkway in Queens, police said.

The NYPD aims to have the task force formed by the end of the week, the official said. Rather than chasing cars around city streets, the goal of the task force will be to use technology to trace vehicles involved in drag racing and highway takeovers and then impound them, according to the NYPD official.

In the Bronx crash, a white Chrysler 300 hit an unoccupied red oil tanker near Bryant and Viele Avenues in Hunts Point at around 3:20 a.m. Sunday, according to the NYPD. Two passengers, Sabrina Villagomez, 15, and Gilvante Roberson, 21, were rushed to the hospital but could not be saved, police said.]

The driver, 23, and a 17-year-old passenger were taken to a hospital in critical condition, police said. Charges were expected to be filed against the driver, police said.

Authorities said the driver was speeding when the vehicle spun out from doing a donut and crashed into the truck. The Chrysler then jumped the curb and hit a building, according to a law enforcement source.

Video from the scene shows the mangled Chrysler on a sidewalk between the building and the damaged red fuel truck. Parts of the white Chrysler were strewn across the street and sidewalk.

Several hours later, a group of drivers was then busted in a takeover on the Grand Central Parkway at around 3:15 p.m. Sunday, according to an NYPD spokesperson. Police said the drivers were also spotted doing donuts near the scene of the fatal crash on Bryant and Viele avenues in Hunts Point.

The NYPD released a video showing a white truck doing donuts while traffic was backed up on the parkway. One of the drivers, Tanach Lordthao, 23, of Queens, was charged with reckless endangerment, reckless driving, obstructing traffic, and disorderly conduct, police said.

"The hijacking of NYC roadways to drive recklessly endangers everyone. We saw this at the fatal collision in the Bronx last night. And today, another group caused chaos by shutting down the Grand Central Parkway," NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry posted on X.

PIX11's Henry Rosoff will have more on this story in the PIX11 News at 5 p.m.