UPDATE: Newport News Police say that Darrell Pittman was taken into custody in Chesapeake without incident early Saturday morning.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Newport News police have charged one person and are seeking another in connection to a crash that killed a woman.
Police said in a news release the crash happened after officers tried to stop a green 2003 Ford Explorer in the area of Boykin Lane and Jefferson Avenue around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Officers had identified a suspect in the SUV — 20-year-old Darrell Pittman — as someone with violent felony warrants on file.
Police said officers turned on their squad car lights and tried to pull over the vehicle. The driver, 18-year-old Chaikim Reynolds, tried flee and ran two red lights before crashing into a 2006 Dodge Caravan, police said.
“From the time the lights activated to the impact was roughly around 20 seconds,” said Police Chief Steve Drew.
VIDEO: Chief Steve Drew holds news conference following crash
Two women inside of the van were transported to a local hospital following the crash.
Police said the passenger inside the van, 78-year-old Elizabeth May Verley, died from her injuries Wednesday night. Her daughter, who was driving, was treated at the hospital and later released.
78 yr. old Elizabeth Verley died following a crash in Newport News last night. Her family says they are crushed.
One man has been charged and police are actively looking for another suspect, 19 yr. old Darrell Pittman. @WAVY_News pic.twitter.com/9vR9aKmLSC— Kara Dixon (@KaraWAVY) January 24, 2019
According to police, there were five people inside the SUV, including Pittman and Reynolds.
Reynolds has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving, evade and elude, operating without license and two counts of failure to obey traffic signal.
A juvenile suspect has been charged with a firearm violation. Two others who were detained after the crash have since been released.
Police said Pittman is still at-large. Those with information that could help authorities find him could receive a combined $3,500 reward. Anyone with information on his whereabout is asked to Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or the ATF Joint Support Operations Center at 1-800-800-3855.
“We’ve had some calls saying ‘should we be in fear?'” Drew said. “So let me say this. I would consider Mr. Pittman an individual we need to get into custody off the streets of Newport News. If anyone has information, please come forward but I am fully confident, fully confident in the men and women of this organization and federal partners that he will be located quickly.”
Drew is proud of the way his officers handled the chaotic scene and also thanks for the community, who he says are sending in tips, for cooperating.
10 On Your Side did speak with Verley’s daughter, who was driving the van, off camera.
She told us they were headed to the store to get a muffin for Verley when the crash happened.
Verley’s daughter described her as “golden hearted” and once you met her, you had a friend for life.
Drew says he spoke with the family at the hospital Wednesday night and again over the phone Thursday. He sends condolences on behalf of the whole department.
Verley is originally from New York and moved to the area 14 years ago to be with her daughter.
WAVY Digital Producers Taylor O’Bier and Kevin Green contributed to this story.
