BSO: 6 people arrested after police chase ended in crash that killed woman – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

POMPANO BEACH, FL. (WSVN) – The Broward Sheriff’s Office is investigating a two-vehicle crash that occurred during a police chase on I-95 that killed a woman in Pompano Beach.

When Patricia Schmelz couldn’t make it to her job as a hotel night inspector on Friday, her closest friend knew something was wrong.

Her name is Beverly and she was uncomfortable showing her face. She has known Patricia since she was a child.

“How could she not make it to work,” she said. “Maybe she overslept, I called her,” Beverly said.

She never reached Patricia because a stolen Dodge Charger driven by a 17-year-old boy plowed into her at West Copans Road and I-95, killing her.

“Everyone at work, everyone is still in shock and it’s a hard pill to swallow,” Jessie said.

“What’s going to kill me is that we talked every day,” Beverly said.

There was another victim that night: the owner of the 2016 Dodge Charger.

“They hit me on the forehead,” said Rider Prospère.

Prospère, 25, was in Hallandale Beach hours before the crash to pick up an acquaintance. He now believes he was framed because he was immediately surrounded.

“Five people with guns and stuff like that,” Prospère said. “I was shocked.”

He said the group hit him with a gun, pulled him out of the car and forced him to take off his clothes.

“Left me naked and drove away in the car,” Prospère said.

A neighbor gave him something to wear and called the police.

A BSO report found that police found the 2016 Dodge Charger sedan just after 11 p.m. on May 10 while being pursued by the Hallandale Beach Police Department in connection with an armed carjacking.

Police pursued the thieves, who ran a red light on West Copans Road and struck a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe that Patricia was driving, damaging her car.

Patricia was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Investigators said there were six suspects in the Dodge Charger, all of whom were arrested by both BSO deputies and Hallandale Beach police officers. Jamari Peacock was driving the Charger during the pursuit. Only one of the group is an adult: 20-year-old Cody Clark. The names and ages of the other inmates were not released.

Patricia’s friends reflected on their loss and picked up their beloved pets, Zachary and Jackson.

“She would give you the shirt off her back. She was just such a generous and caring person,” Jessie said.

“She was on her way to work, one second longer and she would have missed it,” Beverly said. “I’m just devastated.”

The charges against the suspects are currently ongoing, but serious consequences are expected.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing.

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